Expertise

Research interests:

  • Comparative auditory perception and physiology
  • Effects of degraded signals on perception
  • Models of cochlear implants

His broad research interests are in the area of comparative auditory science. He is particularly interested in understanding how the physical features of complex sounds are encoded or represented in the auditory nervous system and how these representations are then related to the perceptual attributes of the sound in humans and non-human mammals. Previous research focused on neurophysiology of auditory neurons in the brainstem and behavioral experiments based on operant-conditioning in chinchillas. Current research projects are focused on pitch, speech and timbre perception in human listeners. Dr. Shofner teaches courses in the areas of anatomy and physiology of the auditory system, central auditory neuroscience, and hearing science.

Research: Auditory biophysics research, with a focus on the mechanics of the ear in mammals, is conducted under the direction of Dr. Robert Withnell.


Research Interests

  • auditory nervous system; perceptual attributes of sound

Subject Area

  • Language and Hearing Sciences
Past Affiliations

Research Associate Professor, Loyola University Chicago

Postdoctoral Fellow, Program in Neuroscience, College of Arts and Sciences, Indiana University Bloomington

Communities
Neuroscience, Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology
Degrees
PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Physiology, 1983
MS, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Physiology, 1979
AB, Indiana University Northwest, Biology, 1977
BS, Indiana University, Biology, 1974
Keywords
olfaction or smell neurophysiology speech pathology & disorders hearing disorders hearing physical senses, other otolaryngology histology
Associations
Association for Research in Otolaryngology