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Facilities
The Wisconsin Speech Perception Laboratory includes excellent facilities to support a very broad array of experimental techniques. The Laboratory includes seven sound-proof booths, many computers, and an array of high-quality analog equipment. Overall, facilities are state of the art. It is possible to conduct virtually any type of speech research with the sole exception of studies with human infants, in which case, collaboration with Professor Jenny Saffran is possible.
Recording, synthesis and analysis
One sound-proof booth is used primarily for recording speech. A computer is dedicated to direct digitization of sounds, and two computers are paired with an array of analog equipment and a full complements of software for synthesis and analysis of speech and other complex sounds. While a number of specialized software packages are used, MATLAB is the preferred platform for signal analysis and generation.
Human listening experiments
One of the advantages of research in the Department of Psychology is a plentiful group of listeners for experiments. For experiments in which responses are relatively simple (2, 4, or 8 responses), data are collected concurrently from three subjects in separate sound-proof booths. For experiments that require more space, sometimes to include an experimenter with the listener, a large double-wall sound-proof booth is used. In both cases, all experimental parameters (stimulus presentation, data collection) are under control of dedicated computers.
Animal psychophysics and learning
Nonhuman animals (chinchillas at present) are used in experiments for which one wishes to precisely control experience with sounds of interest. Two laboratories are designed for such studies. In each case there are large sound-proof booths, and inside these booths are special small sound-proof booths for animal subjects. Custom interfaces between computers and experiment control equipment are in place for running five subjects concurrently. Animal colony rooms are directly adjacent to experiment rooms.
Auditory physiology
At present, all experiments in the Laboratory are noninvasive; however, behavioral studies that include simultaneous neural recordings are planned. Currently, all physiological work is conducted in collaboration with Professor William Rhode and Dr. Alberto Recio in the Department of Physiology. Their laboratory is conveniently across the street from the Department of Psychology, and all recent graduate students have had the opportunity to engage in physiology research to varying extents.
Pics
