Dr. Molly J. Henry
Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics
Grüneburgweg 14, 60322 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
E-Mail: molly.henry@ae.mpg.de
Scientific Focus
Brain rhythms readily synchronize with auditory rhythms, like those in music and speech. Although brain–environment synchrony is associated with positive behavioral outcomes – we better understand and remember material when brain–environment synchrony is tighter – we’re missing an understanding of why one person might succeed in a listening situation while another might fail. The Research Group Neural and Environmental Rhythms takes a dynamical-systems approach to understanding brain–environment synchrony, conceptualizing and modeling brain rhythms as being generated by neural oscillators (and testing that assumption along the way). We combine individual-differences, experimental, and lifespan (later half for now) approaches to move towards a more wholistic, mechanistic understanding of brain–environment synchrony and its role in auditory perception.
Methods
Psychophysics, mathematical modeling, magneto- and electroencephalography (M/EEG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS)
Selected Publications
Henry MJ, Herrmann B, Kunke D and Obleser J (2017) Aging affects the balance of neural entrainment and top-down neural modulation in the listening brain. Nature Communications 8:15801 | DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15801 |
Henry MJ, Herrmann B and Obleser J (2016) Neural Microstates Govern Perception of Auditory Input without Rhythmic Structure. J. Neurosci 36(3):860–871
Henry MJ, Herrmann B and Obleser J (2014) Entrained neural oscillations in multiple frequency
bands comodulate behavior. PNAS 111 (41): 14935–14940
Henry MJ and Herrmann B (2014) Low-Frequency Neural Oscillations Support Dynamic Attending in Temporal Context. Timing & Time Perception 2: 62–86
Henry MJ and Obleser J (2012) Frequency modulation entrains slow neural oscillationsand optimizes human listening behavior. PNAS 109 (49): 20095–20100