Research

Research in our lab examines spoken language processing to promote a theoretical understanding of the perceptual mechanisms that support listeners’ ability to dynamically adapt to structured phonetic variation. Our lab broadly considers this question within the frameworks of linguistics, psychology, and cognitive science. We use a variety of experimental paradigms to examine how listeners map the speech signal onto individual consonants and vowels – the building blocks of larger linguistic units such as words and phrases. We also examine factors that influence organization and retrieval of lexical items within memory. Two crosscutting themes of our research are (1) examining how language comprehension is shaped by input in the environment for perceptual learning in the mature perceiver and plasticity underlying acquisition of speech sound categories in development, and (2) examining factors that explain individual variation in spoken language processing abilities, including variation that arises due to language disorders.

The SLaP Lab aims to operate consistent with best practices for promoting reproducibility in research, including making all data and analysis scripts associated with our manuscripts publicly available. We’re using the Open Science Framework as a central repository for work from our lab. Since 2018, we’ve provided public access to raw data and analysis scripts for our manuscripts, including providing access to these materials during the peer review process. Our long-term goal is to have this repository store data from all (current and past) work from the lab, though we may need a few more years of spring and holiday “breaks” to make that happen. If you’re keen to have access to any of our data, then let us know (rachel.theodore@uconn.edu), and we’ll be happy to provide it.

Recent publications

Luthra, S., Mechtenberg, H., Gioro-Jackson, C., Theodore, R. M., Magnuson, J. S., & Myers, E. B. (In press). Evaluating a causal role for right posterior temporal cortex in talker-specific phonetic processing. Brain and Language.

Drown, L., Giovannone, N., Pisoni, D. B., & Theodore, R. M. (In press). Validation of two measures for assessing English word knowledge in web-based experiments: Long-form assessments. Linguistics Vanguard. DATA/CODE/PREPRINT

Drown, L., Giovannone, N., Pisoni, D. B., & Theodore, R. M. (In press). Validation of two measures for assessing English word knowledge in web-based experiments: Brief assessments. Linguistics Vanguard. DATA/CODE/PREPRINT

Berent, I., Fried, P. J., Theodore, R. M., Manning, D., & Pascual-Leone, A. (2023). Phonetic categorization relies on motor simulation, but combinatorial phonological computations are abstract. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 874.

Cummings, S. N., & Theodore, R. M. (2023). Hearing is believing: Lexically guided perceptual learning is graded to reflect the quantity of evidence in speech input. Cognition, 235, 105404. DATA/CODE/PREPRINT

Giovannone, N., & Theodore, R. M. (2023). Do individual differences in lexical reliance reflect states or traits?  Cognition, 232, 105320. DATA/CODE/PREPRINT

Berent, I., Theodore, R. M., & Valencia, E. (2022). Autism attenuates the perception of the mind-body divide. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119, e2211628119.

Drouin, J. D., Zysk, V., Myers, E. B., & Theodore, R. M. (2023). Sleep-based memory consolidation stabilizes perceptual learning of noise-vocoded speech. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 66, 720-734. DATA/CODE/PREPRINT

Drown, L., Philip, B., Francis, A. L., & Theodore, R. M. (2022). Revising the left ear advantage for phonetic cues to talker identification. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 152(5), 3107-3123. DATA/CODE/PREPRINT

    Theodore, R. M. (2022). Statistical errors in “How graduate students with vocal fry are perceived by speech-language pathologists.” Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 7(6), 1908-1912. DATA/CODE

    Hogstrom, A., Theodore, R. M., Canfield, A., Castelluccio, B., Green, J., Irvine, C., & Eigsti, I. (2022). Social and sensory influences on linguistic alignment: Phonetic convergence in autism spectrum disorder. Evolutionary Linguistic Theory, 4, 102-128. https://doi.org/10.1075/elt.00039.hog

    Cummings, S. N., & Theodore, R. M. (2022). Perceptual learning of multiple talkers: Determinants, characteristics, and limitations. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 84, 2335–2359. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13414-022-02556-6 DATA/CODE/PREPRINT

    Drouin, J. D., & Theodore, R. M. (2022). Many tasks, same outcome: Role of training task on perceptual learning and maintenance of noise-vocoded speech. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 152, 981–993. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0013507 DATA/CODE/PREPRINT

    Mills, H. E., Shorey, A. E., Theodore, R. M., & Stilp, C. E. (2022). Context effects in perception of vowels differentiated by F1 are not influenced by variability in talkers’ mean F1 or F3. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 152(1), 55-66. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0011920 DATA/CODE

    Giovannone, N., & Theodore, R.M. (2021). Individual differences in lexical contributions to speech perception. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 64, 707-724. https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_JSLHR-20-00283 DATA/CODE

    Giovannone, N., & Theodore, R.M. (2021). Individual differences in the use of acoustic-phonetic versus lexical cues for speech perception. Frontiers in Communication (Language Sciences), 6, 120. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2021.691225 DATA/CODE

    Tzeng, C. Y., Nygaard, L.C., & Theodore, R. M. (2021). A second chance for a first impression: Sensitivity to cumulative input statistics for lexically guided perceptual learning. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 28, 1003-1014. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-020-01840-6 DATA/CODE

    Drouin, J. R., & Theodore, R. M. (2020). Leveraging interdisciplinary perspectives to optimize auditory training for cochlear implant users. Language and Linguistics Compass, 14(9), e12394. https://doi.org/10.1111/lnc3.12394

    Berent, I., Platt, M., Theodore, R. M., Balaban, E., Fried, P. J., & Pascual-Leone, A. (2020). Speech perception triggers articulatory action: Evidence from mechanical stimulation. Frontiers in Communication, 5, 34. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2020.00034

    Stilp, C. E., & Theodore, R. M. (2020). Talker normalization is mediated by structured indexical information. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13414-020-01971-x DATA/CODE

    Magnuson, J. S., You, H., Luthra, S., Li, M., Nam, H., Escabi, M., Brown, K., Allopenna, P. D., Theodore, R. M., Monto, N. R., & Rueckl, J. G. (2020). EARSHOT: A minimal neural network model of incremental human speech recognition. Cognitive Science, 44, e12823. https://doi.org/10.1111/cogs.12823 DATA/CODE

    Theodore, R. M., Monto, N. R., & Graham, S. (2020). Individual differences in distributional learning for speech: What’s ideal for ideal observers? Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 63, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1044/2019_JSLHR-S-19-0152 DATA/CODE

    Theodore, R. M., & Flanagan, E. G. (2020). Determinants of voice recognition in monolingual and bilingual listeners. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 23, 158-170. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1366728919000075 DATA/CODE

    Ganugapati, D., & Theodore, R. M. (2019). Structured phonetic variation facilitates talker identification. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 145, EL469-EL475. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.5100166 DATA/CODE

    Orena, A. J., Polka, L., & Theodore, R. M. (2019). Identifying bilingual talkers after a language switch: Language experience matters. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 145, EL303-EL309. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.5097735

    Assgari, A. A., Theodore, R. M., & Stilp, C. E. (2019). Variability in talkers’ fundamental frequencies shapes context effects in speech perception. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 145, 1443-1454. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.5093638 DATA/CODE

    Theodore, R. M., & Monto, N. R. (2019). Distributional learning for speech reflects cumulative exposure to a talker’s phonetic distributions. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 26, 985-992. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-018-1551-5 DATA/CODE

    Drouin, J. R., & Theodore, R. M. (2018). Lexically guided perceptual learning is robust to task-based changes in listening strategy. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 144, 1089-1099. DATA/CODE

    Campbell, J. A., McSherry, H. M., & Theodore, R. M. (2018). Contextual influences on phonetic categorization in school-aged children. Frontiers in Communication, 3, 35. DATA/CODE

    Myers, E. B., & Theodore, R. M. (2017). Voice-sensitive brain networks encode talker-specific phonetic detail. Brain and Language, 165, 33-44.

    Xin, X., Theodore, R. M., & Myers, E. B. (2017). More than a boundary shift: Perceptual adaptation to foreign-accented speech reshapes the internal structure of phonetic categories. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 43, 206-217.

    Skoe, E., Brody, L., & Theodore, R. M. (2017). Reading ability reflects individual differences in auditory brainstem function, even into adulthood. Brain and Language, 164, 25-31.

    Drouin, J. R., Theodore, R. M., & Myers, E. B. (2016). Lexically guided perceptual tuning of internal phonetic category structure. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 140, EL307-EL313.

    Kadam, M. A., Orena, A. J., Theodore, R. M., & Polka, L. (2016). Reading ability influences native and non-native voice recognition, even for unimpaired readers. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 139, EL6-EL12.

    Theodore, R. M., Myers, E. B., & Lomibao, J. A.  (2015). Talker-specific influences on phonetic category structure.  Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 138, 1068-1078.

    Theodore, R. M., Demuth, K., & Shattuck-Hufnagel, S.  (2015).  Examination of the locus of positional influences on children’s production of plural –s: Considerations from local and global speech planning .  Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 58, 946-953.

    Orena, A. J., Theodore, R. M., & Polka, L.  (2015).  Language exposure facilitates talker learning prior to language comprehension, even in adults.  Cognition, 143, 36-40.

    Theodore, R. M., Blumstein, S. E., & Luthra, S.  (2015).  Attention modulates specificity effects in spoken word recognition: Challenges to the time-course hypothesis.  Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 77, 1674-1684.

    Manuscripts under review

    Harel, D., Goudelias, D., Cheng, Hung-Shao, Baese-Berk, M., Theodore, R. M., & Levi, S. V. (Under review). A rose by any other name may be a different vocabulary item: Examining the relationship between multiple tests of receptive vocabulary for online studies.

    Giovanone, N., & Theodore, R. M. (In revision). What drives increased lexical reliance in language impairment? DATA/CODE/PREPRINT

    Shorey, A. E., Stilp, C. E., Theodore, R. M., & King, C. J. (Revision under review). Talker adaptation or “talker” adaptation? Musical instrument variability impedes pitch perception.

    Saltzman, D., Magnuson, J.S., Theodore, R. M., & Myers, E. B. (Under review). Listeners generalize phonetic recalibration across talkers.

    Recent conference presentations

    Giovannone, N., & Theodore, R.M. (2019). Contributions to individual differences in lexically guided perceptual learning. Presented at the 177th meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Louisville, Kentucky.  PDF

    Monto, N. R., & Theodore, R. M. (2019). Individual differences in distributional learning for speech: What’s ideal for ideal observers? Presented at the 177th meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Louisville, Kentucky.  PDF

    Drouin, J. R., & Theodore, R. M. (2018). Effects of receptive language ability on the neural representation of phonetic category structure. Presented at the 176th meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Victoria, British Columbia.  PDF

    Simmons, E.S., Paul, R., Theodore, R. M., Li, M., & Magnuson, J. S. (2017). Insight into spoken word processing in young children using eye movements. Presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Neurobiology of Language, Baltimore, Maryland.

    Drouin, J. R., Ose, J. & Theodore, R. M. (2017). Effects of processing depth on lexically guided perceptual learning. Presented at the 173rdmeeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Boston, Massachusetts.

    Assgari, A., Theodore, R. M., & Stilp, C. (2017). Isolating sources of acoustic variability that diminish spectral contrast effects in vowel categorization. Presented at the 173rdmeeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Boston, Massachusetts.

    Canfield, A. R., Castelluccio, B., Jogstrom, A., Green, J. J., Irvine, C., Theodore, R. M., & Eigsti, I. M. (2017). Reduced phonetic convergence in autism spectrum disorder. Presented at the annual International Meeting for Autism Research, San Francisco, California.

    Drouin, J. R., Monto, N. R., Graham, S., Ose, J. & Theodore, R. M. (2016). Effects of attention on lexically-informed perceptual learning. Presented at the 172ndmeeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Honolulu, Hawaii.

    Theodore, R. M., Monto, N. R., Orena, A. J., & Polka, L. (2016). The native language benefit for voice recognition is not contingent on lexical access. Presented at the 172ndmeeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Honolulu, Hawaii.

    Orena, A. J., Polka, L., & Theodore, R. M. (2016). Language familiarity mediates identification of bilingual talkers across languages. Presented at the 172ndmeeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Honolulu, Hawaii.

    Assgari, A., Mohiuddin, A., Theodore, R. M., & Stilp, C. (2016). Dissociating contributions of talker gender and acoustic variability for spectral contrast effects in vowel categorization. Presented at the 171stmeeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Salt Lake City, Utah.

    Xie, X., Theodore, R. M., & Myers, E. B.  (2015). Perceptual adaptation to foreign-accented speech reshapes the internal structure of phonetic categories. Presented at the annual meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Chicago, Illinois.

    Myers, E. B., Theodore, R. M., & Luthra, S. (2015). Neural encoding of talker-specific phonetic information. Presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Neurobiology of Language, Chicago, Illinois.  PDF

    Skoe, E., Brody, L., & Theodore, R. M. (2015). Biological markers of reading ability in the adult auditory system. Presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Neurobiology of Language, Chicago, Illinois.

    Bohner, A., Thompson, E., Graham, S., Drouin, J., & Theodore, R. M.  (2015). Effects of reading ability on lexically-informed perceptual learning. Presented at the 169th meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  PDF

    Kadam, M., Orena, A. J., Monto, N. R., Theodore, R. M., & Polka, L.  (2015). Effects of reading ability on native and nonnative talker recognition. Presented at the 169th meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  PDF

    Orena, A. J., Theodore, R. M., & Polka, L.  (2015). Exposure to an unfamiliar language bolster talker learning. Presented at the 169th meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

    Collaborators

    Dr. Emily Myers University of Connecticut
    Dr. Stefanie Shattuck-Hufnagel Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Dr. Linda Polka McGill University
    Dr. Erika Skoe University of Connecticut
    Dr. James Magnuson University of Connecticut
    Dr. Christian Stilp University of Louisville