Dr. Daniel Pederick

Biography

Daniel Pederick is an Assistant Professor in the Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His research focuses on understanding how the brain processes sound information and the formation of precise neural connections necessary for proper brain function. He employs a combination of single-cell transcriptomic analysis, animal models, and virus-mediated axon tracing along with in vivo electrophysiology to identify the molecules and mechanisms that mediate correct neural circuit formation. His work explores the development of the central auditory system and aims to elucidate the pathways that become disrupted in neurodevelopmental disorders. Pederick's studies delve into how the brain decodes properties of sound, particularly focusing on how auditory information is transmitted from the cochlea to the brainstem and processed through distinct neural pathways. He investigates tonotopic maps, the spatial organization that represents sounds according to their physical frequencies, and how these mappings are established and refined in the early stages of development, particularly during critical periods coinciding with the onset of hearing.

Research Interests