A current study by researchers at the University of Rochester entitled, Perception of Music and Language through Auditory Interference, has been selected as the recipient of the Provost Multidiscipliary Research Award.

The work is based on the ability to filter interfering auditory signals from a primary stream is a basic aspect of social and musical communication. Musical performance requires continuous attention to a complex auditory signal: how does this expertise interface with the processing of linguistic signals? Is auditory filtering ability facilitated by musical training?

In order to explore the above questions, this study brings together researchers with expertise in the following fields:

• Musical Pitch Perception: Elizabeth Marvin, Ph.D. - Eastman School of Music
• Linguistic Phonological and Phonetic Analysis: Joyce McDonough - Linguistics
• Auditory Processing: Anne Luebke, Ph.D. - Biomedical Engineering