Welcome to the Multisensory Research Laboratory Home Page
Jennifer M. Groh,
Ph.D, Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dept. of Neurobiology, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience,
Research interests: Neural basis of vision, audition,
multisensory integration, sensorimotor integration, motor control
How do our senses
work together? Our eyes and ears
cooperate to help us understand our environment. We frequently perceive visual and auditory
stimuli as being bound together if they seem likely to have arisen from a
common source. That's why we tend not to
notice that the speakers on TV sets or in movie theatres are located beside,
and not behind, the screen. Research in
my laboratory is devoted to investigating the question of how the brain
coordinates the information arising from the ears and eyes. Our findings challenge the historical view of
the brain's sensory processing as being automatic, autonomous, and immune from
outside influence. We have recently established that neurons in the auditory
pathway (inferior colliculus, auditory cortex) alter their responses to sound
depending on where the eyes are pointing.
This finding suggests that the different sensory pathways meddle in one
another's supposedly private affairs, making their respective influences felt
even at very early stages of processing. The process of bringing the signals
from two different sensory pathways into a common frame of reference begins at
a surprisingly early point along the primary sensory pathways.
POSITIONS OPEN:
Graduate
student
(Neurobiology program, then click "how to apply")
(Psychology and Neuroscience program, then click "graduate programs" and "how to apply")
(Center for Cognitive Neuroscience program, then click "Graduate Training")
Postdoctoral
fellow (send me email)
(last updated,
October, 2007)
publications funding personnel teaching pictures contact info CV
EMAIL FOR REPRINT REQUESTS
RECENT
ARTICLES
Porter,
KK.,Metzger, RR, and Groh, JM 2007.
Visual- and saccade-related signals in the primate inferior colliculus.. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, in press (PDF version)
Metzger,
RR.,Greene, NT, Porter, KK and Groh, JM 2006.
Effects of reward and behavioral context on neural activity in the primate inferior colliculus. Journal of Neuroscience, 26:7468-76(PDF version)
Bulkin,
DA., Groh, JM 2006.
Seeing sounds: Visual and auditory interactions in the brain. Current Opinions in Neurobiology, 16:415-9(PDF version)
Porter,
KK., Groh, JM 2006.
The "other" transformation required for visual-auditory integration: representational format . Progress in Brain Research, 155:313-23(PDF version)
Porter,
KK., Metzger, RR Groh, JM 2006.
The representation of eye position in primate inferior colliculus. Journal of Neurophysiology, 95:1826-42(PDF version)
Werner-Reiss, U,
Porter, KK, Underhill, AM, Groh, JM 2006.
Long-lasting attenuation by prior sounds in auditory cortex of awake primates. Experimental Brain Research, 168:272-6.(PDF version)
Mullette-Gillman,
OA., Cohen, YE, Groh, JM 2005.
Eye-centered,
head-centered, and complex coding of visual and auditory targets in the intraparietal sulcus. Journal of Neurophysiology, 94:2331-2352. (PDF version) (Link to
article at J Neurophysiol). See also the editorial by Larry Snyder.
Metzger RR, Mullette-Gillman OA, Underhill AM, Cohen YE, Groh JM. 2004. Auditory saccades from different eye positions in the monkey: implications for coordinate transformations. J Neurophysiol. 2004 Oct;92(4):2622-7. (PDF version) (Link to article at JNeurophysiol).
Groh, JM, Kelly KA and
Underhill, AM. 2003. A monotonic code for sound azimuth in primate
inferior colliculus. Journal of
Cognitive Neuroscience, 15(8):1217-1231.
(PDF version) (Link to article at
JoCN website).
Groh, JM and
Werner-Reiss, U, Kelly, KA,
Trause, AS, Underhill, AM and Groh, JM.
2003. Eye position affects activity in primary auditory cortex of
primates. Current Biology,
13:554-562. (PDF version)
Kelly, KA, Metzger, RR, Mullette-Gillman, OA.,
Groh, JM and Werner-Reiss, U. 2002.
Visual and auditory integration. In, Encyclopedia of the Human Brain. V. S. Ramachandran, ed. Academic Press,
Groh JM, Trause, A. S., Underhill, A.
M., Clark, K. R, Inati, S. 2001. Eye position influences auditory responses in
primate inferior colliculus. Neuron, 29:509-518 (PDF
version) See also the preview in Neuron by Gregg Recanzone. (Jpeg version of
cover) Mirror of Neuron's web site, February 2001 Nature's Science Update has written about our
work! (site mirrors:) Nature's web page Nature's
Science Update "Seeing is a hearing aid"
Groh, JM. 2001. Converting neural signals from place codes to rate codes. Biol. Cybern., 85:159-65. (PDF version)
Boucher, L, Groh JM, Hughes HC. 2001. Visual latency and the mislocalization of perisaccadic stimuli. Vision Research, 41: 2631:2644. (PDF version)
Born, RT, Groh, JM, Zhao, R, and Lukaswewycz, SJ. 2000. Segregation of object and background motion in visual area MT: effects of microstimulation on eye movements. Neuron, 26:725-734. (PDF version). See also this news & views piece in Current Biology by Treue & Ilg
Groh, JM. 2000. Predicting
perception from population codes. Nature Neuroscience, 3(3):201-202. (PDF version)
Groh, JM. 1998. Reading neural representations. Neuron 21:661-664. (PDF version)
Wickersham, I. and Groh, JM. 1998.
Electrically evoking sensory experience.
Current Biology, 8:R412-R414. (PDF version)
Groh, JM, Born, RT, and Newsome, WT. 1997. How is a sensory map read out? Effects of microstimulation in area MT on smooth pursuit and saccadic eye movements. J. Neurosci., 17:4312-4330. (PDF version)
Groh, JM and Sparks, DL. 1996. Saccades to somatosensory targets: I. Behavioral characteristics. J. Neurophysiol., 75: 412-427. (PDF version)
Groh, JM and Sparks, DL. 1996. Saccades to somatosensory targets: II. Motor convergence in primate superior colliculus. J. Neurophysiol., 75: 428-438. (PDF version)
Groh, JM and Sparks, DL. 1996. Saccades to somatosensory targets: III. Influence of eye position on somatosensory activity in primate superior colliculus. J. Neurophysiol., 75: 439-453. (PDF version)
Groh, JM, Born, RT, and Newsome, WT. 1996. Interpreting sensory maps in visual cortex. IBRO News, 24: 11-12.
Groh, JM, Seidemann, E, and Newsome, WT. 1996.
Neural fingerprints of visual attention.
Current Biol, 11: 1406-1409. (PDF version)
Sparks, DL and Groh, JM. 1995.
The superior colliculus: a window
to problems in integrative neuroscience.
In, The Cognitive Neurosciences, Michael S. Gazzaniga, ed. MIT Press,
Groh, JM and Sparks, DL. 1992. Two models for transforming auditory signals from head-centered to eye-centered coordinates. Biol. Cybern., 67(4):291-302.(PDF version)
RECENT
POSTERS/ABSTRACTS
2005:
Werner-Reiss,
U., Greene, NT., Underhill, AM.,
Metzger, RR., Groh, JM. 2005. The
representation of sound frequency in the primate inferior colliculus. Association
for Research in Otolaryngology Abstr.
Groh, JM. 2005. Coordinate transformations for audio-visual integration. European converence on Visual Perception. Invited Speaker.
Werner-Reiss, U., Porter, K. K., Greene, N. T., Larue, D. T., Winer, J. A. and Groh, J. M. 2005. Eye position signals are distributed throughout the primate inferior colliculus. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr.
Porter, K. K., Metzger, R. R., Werner-Reiss, U., Underhill, A. M., Groh, J. M. 2005. Visual responses in auditory neurons of the primate inferior colliclus. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr.
Groh, J. M. 2005. Reference frame of visual and auditory signals in the primate intraparietal sulcus. Gordon Conference on Oculomotor System Biology.
2004:
Groh, JM, Mullette-Gillman, O. A. and
Cohen, Y.E. 2004.A comparison between
the effects of eye position in primate auditory cortex and lateral
intraparietal cortex (LIP). International Multisensory Research Forum,
Mullette-Gillman,
O.A.; Cohen, Y. E.; Groh, JM. 2004. Reference frame of auditory
and visual signals in bimodal neurons of the primate lateral intraparietal area (LIP). Soc.
Neurosci. Abstr.
Metzger,
RR, Kelly, KA, Groh, JM. 2004.
Sensitivity to eye position in the inferior colliculus of the monkey
during an auditory saccade task Soc. Neurosci. Abstr.
Werner-Reiss,
U., Underhill, A. M. Groh, JM. 2004.
The representation of auditory space in core auditory cortex of primates
maintaining fixation. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr.
2003:
Kelly, KA, Werner-Reiss, U, Underhill, AM and Groh, JM. 2003. Eye position signals change shape along the primate auditory pathway. Soc Neurosci Abstr,
Metzger, RR, Mullette-Gillman, OA, Underhill, AM, Cohen, YE and Groh, JM. 2003. Effect of initial eye position on saccades to auditory targets in monkeys. Soc Neurosci Abstr,
Mullette-Gillman, OA, Cohen, YE and Groh, JM. 2003. Similar eye position influences on auditory and visual responses in the lateral intraparietal area, LIP, of primates. Soc Neurosci Abstr,
Werner-Reiss, U, Kelly, KA, Underhill,
AM and Groh, JM. 2003. Long inter-stimulus intervals affect responses in
primate auditory cortex. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr.
Groh, JM. 2003.
Visual-auditory integration: the
role of eye position information. Advances in primate auditory neurophysiology
(Satellite symposium at the Society for Neuroscience Meeting). Joint work with Yale Cohen, Kristin Kelly,
Ryan Metzger, O'Dhaniel Mullette-Gillman,
2002:
Kelly, K. A., U. Werner-Reiss, et al. (2002). Eye position affects a wide range of auditory cortical neurons in primates. Soc Neurosci. Abstr.
Kelly, K. A., U. Werner-Reiss, et al. (2002). History of recent past affects neural responses in auditory cortex of awake primates. Association for Research in Otolaryngology Abstracts in press.
Metzger, R. R. and J. M. Groh (2002). Linking primate inferior colliculus neural activity to sound localization performance. Soc Neurosci. Abstr.
Mullette-Gillman, O. A., Y. E. Cohen, et al. (2002). Assessing the spatial alignment of auditory and visual responses in the inferior parietal sulcus. Soc Neurosci. Abstr.
2001:
Groh, JM. and Underhill, AM. Coding of sound location in primate inferior colliculus. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 27: 60.1. (text version of abstract) (pdf of poster)
Werner-Reiss, U., Kelly, K.A., Underhill, A.M and Groh, JM. Eye position tuning in primate auditory cortex. Soc Neurosci. Abstr. 27: 60.2. (text version of abstract) (pdf of poster)
Metzger, R.R., Underhill, A.M., Groh, J.M. Time course of eye position influence in primate inferior colliculus. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 27: 60.3. (text version of abstract) (pdf of poster)
Groh, J.M., Cohen Y.E., Stanford, T. R., Knudsen, E. I. How our eyes affect our ears: visual intrusions into the domain of hearing. Symposium. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 27: 229. (text version of abstract).
2000:
Trause, A. S., Werner-Reiss, U., Underhill, A. M., Groh, J. M. 2000. Effects
of eye position on auditory signals in primate auditory cortex. Soc. Neurosi. Abst., 26:1977. (word
document of abstract)
Clark, K. R., Trause, A. S., Underhill, A. M., Groh, J. M. 2000. Effects of
eye position on auditory signals in primate inferior colliculus. Soc. Neurosi. Abst., 26:1977. (word
document of abstract)
Boucher, L., Groh JM., Hughes, HC. 2000. Oculomotor localization of
perisaccadic auditory targets. Soc. Neurosi.
Abst. 26:1329. (word document)
Funding:
We would like to thank the following funding sources for supporting our
research:
Helen Hay
Whitney Fellowship, 1995-1997.
Alfred P.
Sloan Research Fellowship, 1998-2000.
McKnight Scholar Award,
1998-2001
Whitehall Foundation Research Grant,
1998-present
ONR Young
Investigator Program Grant, 1999-2002
NIH Program project grant 1999-2004
John Merck Scholarship in the Biology
of Developmental Disabilities in Children, 1999-present
EJLB Foundation (2002-2004)
NIH
(NINDS) R01 NS50942-01 (2004-2008)
NSF (2005-2009)
NIH (NEI) R01 (2006-2010)
Teaching information (from Dartmouth)
Psychology 111, Graduate proseminar, Spring 1998*, Fall 1998*, Winter
2000, Fall 2000*, Spring 2003, Spring 2004* (* = course organizer)
Psych 51
"Memory and Brain" (Spring 1998):
Psych 51 "Memory and
Brain" (Fall 1998)
Psych 64 "Sensory Processes" (Winter
1999)
Psych 64 "Sensory Processes" (Winter
2001)
Psych 64 "Sensory Processes" (Winter
2002)
Psych 64 "Sensory Processes" (Winter
2004)
Psychology 21 "Perception"
(Spring 2001)
Psychology 111 "Methods in Data Analysis" (Spring 2003, Fall 2003) This is an upper-level/graduate course
designed to teach useful computer analysis skills for research (e.g. matlab).
Personnel:
Jennifer M. Groh, Ph.D., Associate Professor,
Ryan Metzger, Postdoctoral fellow
David Bulkin, Graduate Student
Abigail M. Underhill,
Veterinary Technician
Jessi Cruger, Veterinary Technician
Norbert Kopco, Postdoctoral fellow
Nathaniel Greene, Research Technician
Uri Werner-Reiss, Postdoctoral fellow
Jennifer Groh with a llama (JG is on the left)
Jennifer Groh & Abigail Underhill
Jennifer & Abigail again
O'Dhaniel Mullette-Gillman
O'Dhaniel and Abigail
O'Dhaniel Mullette-Gillman again
Jennifer Groh again
Amanda Trause
Amanda Trause again
Contact information:
Mailing address:
Duke University
LSRC Rm B203
Box 90999
Durham NC 27708
Phone: 919-681-6536
Fax: 919-681-0815
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