Dr. Xiaoqin Wang

Biography

Xiaoqin Wang is a Professor in the Solomon H Snyder Department of Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. With a focus on the neural mechanisms responsible for auditory perception and learning, his long-term research goal is to understand how the cerebral cortex processes communication sounds, including human speech and primate vocalizations. This line of research is vital as the ability to perceive communication sounds is central to the behavioral repertoire of humans and higher-order mammals, contributing significantly to survival and well-being. By investigating the cortical mechanisms involved in the perception of these sounds, Wang aims to shed light on the intricate processes underlying human language perception. His work utilizes a combination of behavioral, neurophysiological, anatomical, and computational techniques to tackle issues related to vocal primate models. Current research topics encompass neural encoding of species-specific vocalizations in the auditory cortex, the processing of time-varying signals, the mechanisms underlying vocal production and auditory-vocal interaction in primates, and the influence of developmental experience on plasticity in relation to primate vocalizations.

Research Interests