Ongoing research studies:
The PINE study
The PupIlommetry and NorEpinephrine study uses non-invasive methods to evaluate a potential neural mechanism for dyslexia - abnormal signaling in norepinephrine, which is a chemical messenger in the brain. This signal is important for learning and memory as well as detecting surprising and unexpected events. We are recruiting children 7-12 years old who are typical readers, with dyslexia, and those with dyslexia and ADHD. Interested? Send us an email at gapplab (at) phhp.ufl (dot) edu
The Grammy Study
With grant funding from the GRAMMY Museum, this study investigates the impact of extensive (9+ years) versus minimal (<2 years) musical training on the brain’s ability to set and evaluate expectations in young adults with and without dyslexia. The study utilizes high-density EEG to answer these questions.
Non-invasive auricular vagus nerve stimulation for improving reading, language, and more!
Previous work by Dr. Centanni has demonstrated that some children who struggle to learn to read have inconsistency in their brain's response to speech and letter stimuli. In these children, their brains do not respond the same way every time they hear a single speech sound. In typical readers, this consistency is important when it comes time to match the sound a letter makes to the visual presentation of that letter (a grapheme). Many interventions already exist for dyslexia, but none are 100% successful and there are many brain and genetic differences that may drive the failure of children to respond in any single case.
Our current studies in this space are focused on:
1) apraxia of speech
2) speech perception in veterans with TBI
3) age-related hearing loss
4) understanding environmental and biological barriers to efficacy
5) letter sound learning in dyslexia
