Communication, Voice, and Swallowing Research

Dr. Cohen's areas of interest encompass health services research related to voice and swallowing disorders. Dr. Cohen enjoys studying the real world practice patterns involved in the evaluation and management of patients with voice and swallowing disorders and the relationship between practice patterns and the outcomes of patients with these varied conditions. 

Dr. Eliades’ research focuses on the neural basis of hearing and vocal communication. Communication is a dynamic process that encompasses both production and perception, occurring in an interactive and contextually-dependent fashion. This work encompasses questions of vocal self-monitoring, mechanisms of vocal production and feedback-dependent vocal control, sensory processing in naturalistic listening situations, and social/contextual contributions to hearing and communicative behaviors. The research in his group combines both basic scientific approaches in model organisms and parallel investigations in human subjects, including patients with hearing and communication disorders.

Led by Dr. Eliades, the Auditory and Communication Systems Laboratory aims to understand the behavioral and brain mechanisms underlying hearing and vocal communication in both basic science and translational models.

Harrison Jones, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences at Duke University. Dr. Jones’ research interests include the use of exercise-based, behavioral treatments in individuals with neuromuscular conditions. For example, he is systematically investigating the effects of respiratory muscle training (RMT) on inspiratory and expiratory weakness in patients with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD). He and his collaborators were also among the first to identify the presence of tongue muscle weakness in LOPD and he is currently investigating the diagnostic utility of measures of lingual function and structure in the differential diagnosis of this condition. His research is funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) and the Genzyme Corporation, and he has two U.S. patent applications for RMT-related technologies that are in further development in collaboration with industry partners.

Harrison N. Jones, PhD, is the Principal Investigator of the Human Motor Performance Laboratory. Our research focuses on the study of normal and disordered motor function to enhance understanding of pathophysiology, develop behavioral interventions, and identify optimal outcome measures.

Jamila Minga, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine. The Minga Right Hemisphere Communication Lab is dedicated to understanding the communication impairments, particularly those concerning language production, that can occur after right hemisphere stroke. Dr. Minga co-developed the RHDBank database and protocol as a foundation for increasing scientific inquiry and understanding of language production after a right hemisphere stroke. She is dedicated to improving knowledge about hemispheric contributions to language as a basis for engineering population specific diagnostic and treatment approaches that will improve the quality of life of survivors, their loved ones, and caregivers. She aims to accomplish these goals with the support of survivors, community and educational partners.

The Minga Right Hemisphere Communication Lab is dedicated to understanding the communication impairments, particularly those concerning language production, that can occur following acquired damage to the right hemisphere after stroke.