Nicole Russo | Rush University Medical Center (original) (raw)

Papers by Nicole Russo

Research paper thumbnail of Biological changes in auditory function following training in children with autism spectrum disorders

Behavioral and Brain Functions, 2010

BACKGROUND: Children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), such as children with autism s... more BACKGROUND: Children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), such as children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), often show auditory processing deficits related to their overarching language impairment. Auditory training programs such as Fast ForWord Language may potentially alleviate these deficits through training-induced improvements in auditory processing. METHODS: To assess the impact of auditory training on auditory function in children with ASD,

Research paper thumbnail of Web‐based Assessment of Social–Emotional Skills in School‐Aged Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Research paper thumbnail of A key to understanding social communication deficits in autism spectrum disorders: Neural processing of sound and speech intonation

Research paper thumbnail of Nutritional quality of leaf detritus altered by elevated atmospheric CO2: effects on development of mosquito larvae

Freshwater Biology, 2003

1. Populus tremuloides leaf litter was produced under elevated (ELEV = 720 ppm) and ambient (AMB ... more 1. Populus tremuloides leaf litter was produced under elevated (ELEV = 720 ppm) and ambient (AMB = 360 ppm) atmospheric CO 2 conditions. Leaf chemical quality was significantly altered by CO 2 enrichment. ELEV leaves had significantly higher concentrations of phenolic ...

Research paper thumbnail of On the Relationship between Speech and Nonspeech-Evoked Auditory Brainstem Responses

Audiology and Neuro-otology, 2006

Auditory brainstem response (ABR) refl ects activation of the neural generators along the ascendi... more Auditory brainstem response (ABR) refl ects activation of the neural generators along the ascending auditory pathway when a sound is heard. In this study, we explored the relationship between brainstem encoding of click and speech signals in normal-learning children and in those with language-based learning problems. To that end, ABR was recorded from both types of stimuli. We found that the normal pattern of correlation between click-and speech-evoked ABRs was disrupted when speech-evoked ABRs were delayed. Thus, delayed responses to speech were not indicative of clinically abnormal responses to clicks. We conclude that these two responses refl ect largely separate neural processes and that only processes involved in encoding complex signals such as speech are impaired in children with learning problems.

Research paper thumbnail of Brainstem transcription of speech is disrupted in children with autism spectrum disorders

Developmental Science, 2009

controls. Neural synchrony in noise was significantly related to measures of core and receptive l... more controls. Neural synchrony in noise was significantly related to measures of core and receptive language ability. These data support the idea that abnormalities in the brainstem processing of speech contribute to the language impairment in ASD. Because it is both passively elicited and malleable, the speech-evoked brainstem response may serve as a clinical tool to assess auditory processing as well as the effects of auditory training in the ASD population.

Research paper thumbnail of Biological changes in auditory function following training in children with autism spectrum disorders

Behavioral and Brain Functions, 2010

Background: Children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), such as children with autism s... more Background: Children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), such as children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), often show auditory processing deficits related to their overarching language impairment. Auditory training programs such as Fast ForWord Language may potentially alleviate these deficits through training-induced improvements in auditory processing. Methods: To assess the impact of auditory training on auditory function in children with ASD, brainstem and cortical responses to speech sounds presented in quiet and noise were collected from five children with ASD who completed Fast ForWord training.

Research paper thumbnail of Deficient brainstem encoding of pitch in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Clinical Neurophysiology, 2008

Objective: Deficient prosody is a hallmark of the pragmatic (socially contextualized) language im... more Objective: Deficient prosody is a hallmark of the pragmatic (socially contextualized) language impairment in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Prosody communicates emotion and intention and is conveyed through acoustic cues such as pitch contour. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine the subcortical representations of prosodic speech in children with ASD. Methods: Using passively evoked brainstem responses to speech syllables with descending and ascending pitch contours, we examined sensory encoding of pitch in children with ASD who had normal intelligence and hearing and were age-matched with typically developing (TD) control children. Results: We found that some children on the autism spectrum show deficient pitch tracking (evidenced by increased Frequency and Slope Errors and reduced phase locking) compared with TD children. Conclusions: This is the first demonstration of subcortical involvement in prosody encoding deficits in this population of children. Significance: Our findings may have implications for diagnostic and remediation strategies in a subset of children with ASD and open up an avenue for future investigations.

Research paper thumbnail of Audio–vocal system regulation in children with autism spectrum disorders

Experimental Brain Research, 2008

Do children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) respond similarly to perturbations in auditory f... more Do children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) respond similarly to perturbations in auditory feedback as typically developing (TD) children? Presentation of pitch-shifted voice auditory feedback to vocalizing participants reveals a close coupling between the processing of auditory feedback and vocal motor control. This paradigm was used to test the hypothesis that abnormalities in the audio-vocal system would negatively impact ASD compensatory responses to perturbed auditory feedback. Voice fundamental frequency (F 0 ) was measured while children produced an /a/ sound into a microphone. The voice signal was fed back to the subjects in real time through headphones. During production, the feedback was pitch shifted (¡100 cents, 200 ms) at random intervals for 80 trials. Averaged voice F 0 responses to pitch-shifted stimuli were calculated and correlated with both mental and language abilities as tested via standardized tests. A subset of children with ASD produced larger responses to perturbed auditory feedback than TD children, while the other children with ASD produced signiWcantly lower response magnitudes. Furthermore, robust relationships between language ability, response magnitude and time of peak magnitude were identiWed. Because auditory feedback helps to stabilize voice F 0 (a major acoustic cue of prosody) and individuals with ASD have problems with prosody, this study identiWed potential mechanisms of dysfunction in the audio-vocal system for voice pitch regulation in some children with ASD. Objectively quantifying this deWcit may inform both the assessment of a subgroup of ASD children with prosody deWcits, as well as remediation strategies that incorporate pitch training.

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Background Noise on Cortical Encoding of Speech in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2009

This study provides new evidence of deficient auditory cortical processing of speech in noise in ... more This study provides new evidence of deficient auditory cortical processing of speech in noise in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Speech-evoked responses (*100-300 ms) in quiet and background noise were evaluated in typically-developing (TD) children and children with ASD. ASD responses showed delayed timing (both conditions) and reduced amplitudes (quiet) compared to TD responses. As expected, TD responses in noise were delayed and reduced compared to quiet responses. However, minimal quiet-to-noise response differences were found in children with ASD, presumably because quiet responses were already severely degraded. Moreover, ASD quiet responses resembled TD noise responses, implying that children with ASD process speech in quiet only as well as TD children do in background noise.

Research paper thumbnail of Auditory training improves neural timing in the human brainstem

Behavioural Brain Research, 2005

The auditory brainstem response reflects neural encoding of the acoustic characteristic of a spee... more The auditory brainstem response reflects neural encoding of the acoustic characteristic of a speech syllable with remarkable precision. Some children with learning impairments demonstrate abnormalities in this preconscious measure of neural encoding especially in background noise.

Research paper thumbnail of Musical experience shapes human brainstem encoding of linguistic pitch patterns

Nature Neuroscience, 2007

Music and speech are very cognitively demanding auditory phenomena generally attributed to cortic... more Music and speech are very cognitively demanding auditory phenomena generally attributed to cortical rather than subcortical circuitry. We examined brainstem encoding of linguistic pitch and found that musicians show more robust and faithful encoding compared with nonmusicians. These results not only implicate a common subcortical manifestation for two presumed cortical functions, but also a possible reciprocity of corticofugal speech and music tuning, providing neurophysiological explanations for musicians' higher language-learning ability.

Research paper thumbnail of Brainstem responses to speech syllables

Clinical Neurophysiology, 2004

Objective: To establish reliable procedures and normative values to quantify brainstem encoding o... more Objective: To establish reliable procedures and normative values to quantify brainstem encoding of speech sounds. Methods: Auditory brainstem responses to speech syllables presented in quiet and in background noise were obtained from 38 normal children. Brainstem responses consist of transient and sustained, periodic components-much like the speech signal itself. Transient peak responses were analyzed with measures of latency, amplitude, area, and slope. Magnitude of sustained, periodic frequency-following responses was assessed with root mean square, fundamental frequency, and first formant amplitudes; timing was assessed by stimulus-toresponse and quiet-to-noise inter-response correlations.

Research paper thumbnail of Brainstem responses to speech syllables

Clinical Neurophysiology, 2004

Objective: To establish reliable procedures and normative values to quantify brainstem encoding o... more Objective: To establish reliable procedures and normative values to quantify brainstem encoding of speech sounds. Methods: Auditory brainstem responses to speech syllables presented in quiet and in background noise were obtained from 38 normal children. Brainstem responses consist of transient and sustained, periodic components-much like the speech signal itself. Transient peak responses were analyzed with measures of latency, amplitude, area, and slope. Magnitude of sustained, periodic frequency-following responses was assessed with root mean square, fundamental frequency, and first formant amplitudes; timing was assessed by stimulus-toresponse and quiet-to-noise inter-response correlations.

Research paper thumbnail of Biological changes in auditory function following training in children with autism spectrum disorders

Behavioral and Brain Functions, 2010

BACKGROUND: Children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), such as children with autism s... more BACKGROUND: Children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), such as children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), often show auditory processing deficits related to their overarching language impairment. Auditory training programs such as Fast ForWord Language may potentially alleviate these deficits through training-induced improvements in auditory processing. METHODS: To assess the impact of auditory training on auditory function in children with ASD,

Research paper thumbnail of Web‐based Assessment of Social–Emotional Skills in School‐Aged Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Research paper thumbnail of A key to understanding social communication deficits in autism spectrum disorders: Neural processing of sound and speech intonation

Research paper thumbnail of Nutritional quality of leaf detritus altered by elevated atmospheric CO2: effects on development of mosquito larvae

Freshwater Biology, 2003

1. Populus tremuloides leaf litter was produced under elevated (ELEV = 720 ppm) and ambient (AMB ... more 1. Populus tremuloides leaf litter was produced under elevated (ELEV = 720 ppm) and ambient (AMB = 360 ppm) atmospheric CO 2 conditions. Leaf chemical quality was significantly altered by CO 2 enrichment. ELEV leaves had significantly higher concentrations of phenolic ...

Research paper thumbnail of On the Relationship between Speech and Nonspeech-Evoked Auditory Brainstem Responses

Audiology and Neuro-otology, 2006

Auditory brainstem response (ABR) refl ects activation of the neural generators along the ascendi... more Auditory brainstem response (ABR) refl ects activation of the neural generators along the ascending auditory pathway when a sound is heard. In this study, we explored the relationship between brainstem encoding of click and speech signals in normal-learning children and in those with language-based learning problems. To that end, ABR was recorded from both types of stimuli. We found that the normal pattern of correlation between click-and speech-evoked ABRs was disrupted when speech-evoked ABRs were delayed. Thus, delayed responses to speech were not indicative of clinically abnormal responses to clicks. We conclude that these two responses refl ect largely separate neural processes and that only processes involved in encoding complex signals such as speech are impaired in children with learning problems.

Research paper thumbnail of Brainstem transcription of speech is disrupted in children with autism spectrum disorders

Developmental Science, 2009

controls. Neural synchrony in noise was significantly related to measures of core and receptive l... more controls. Neural synchrony in noise was significantly related to measures of core and receptive language ability. These data support the idea that abnormalities in the brainstem processing of speech contribute to the language impairment in ASD. Because it is both passively elicited and malleable, the speech-evoked brainstem response may serve as a clinical tool to assess auditory processing as well as the effects of auditory training in the ASD population.

Research paper thumbnail of Biological changes in auditory function following training in children with autism spectrum disorders

Behavioral and Brain Functions, 2010

Background: Children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), such as children with autism s... more Background: Children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), such as children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), often show auditory processing deficits related to their overarching language impairment. Auditory training programs such as Fast ForWord Language may potentially alleviate these deficits through training-induced improvements in auditory processing. Methods: To assess the impact of auditory training on auditory function in children with ASD, brainstem and cortical responses to speech sounds presented in quiet and noise were collected from five children with ASD who completed Fast ForWord training.

Research paper thumbnail of Deficient brainstem encoding of pitch in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Clinical Neurophysiology, 2008

Objective: Deficient prosody is a hallmark of the pragmatic (socially contextualized) language im... more Objective: Deficient prosody is a hallmark of the pragmatic (socially contextualized) language impairment in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Prosody communicates emotion and intention and is conveyed through acoustic cues such as pitch contour. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine the subcortical representations of prosodic speech in children with ASD. Methods: Using passively evoked brainstem responses to speech syllables with descending and ascending pitch contours, we examined sensory encoding of pitch in children with ASD who had normal intelligence and hearing and were age-matched with typically developing (TD) control children. Results: We found that some children on the autism spectrum show deficient pitch tracking (evidenced by increased Frequency and Slope Errors and reduced phase locking) compared with TD children. Conclusions: This is the first demonstration of subcortical involvement in prosody encoding deficits in this population of children. Significance: Our findings may have implications for diagnostic and remediation strategies in a subset of children with ASD and open up an avenue for future investigations.

Research paper thumbnail of Audio–vocal system regulation in children with autism spectrum disorders

Experimental Brain Research, 2008

Do children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) respond similarly to perturbations in auditory f... more Do children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) respond similarly to perturbations in auditory feedback as typically developing (TD) children? Presentation of pitch-shifted voice auditory feedback to vocalizing participants reveals a close coupling between the processing of auditory feedback and vocal motor control. This paradigm was used to test the hypothesis that abnormalities in the audio-vocal system would negatively impact ASD compensatory responses to perturbed auditory feedback. Voice fundamental frequency (F 0 ) was measured while children produced an /a/ sound into a microphone. The voice signal was fed back to the subjects in real time through headphones. During production, the feedback was pitch shifted (¡100 cents, 200 ms) at random intervals for 80 trials. Averaged voice F 0 responses to pitch-shifted stimuli were calculated and correlated with both mental and language abilities as tested via standardized tests. A subset of children with ASD produced larger responses to perturbed auditory feedback than TD children, while the other children with ASD produced signiWcantly lower response magnitudes. Furthermore, robust relationships between language ability, response magnitude and time of peak magnitude were identiWed. Because auditory feedback helps to stabilize voice F 0 (a major acoustic cue of prosody) and individuals with ASD have problems with prosody, this study identiWed potential mechanisms of dysfunction in the audio-vocal system for voice pitch regulation in some children with ASD. Objectively quantifying this deWcit may inform both the assessment of a subgroup of ASD children with prosody deWcits, as well as remediation strategies that incorporate pitch training.

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Background Noise on Cortical Encoding of Speech in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2009

This study provides new evidence of deficient auditory cortical processing of speech in noise in ... more This study provides new evidence of deficient auditory cortical processing of speech in noise in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Speech-evoked responses (*100-300 ms) in quiet and background noise were evaluated in typically-developing (TD) children and children with ASD. ASD responses showed delayed timing (both conditions) and reduced amplitudes (quiet) compared to TD responses. As expected, TD responses in noise were delayed and reduced compared to quiet responses. However, minimal quiet-to-noise response differences were found in children with ASD, presumably because quiet responses were already severely degraded. Moreover, ASD quiet responses resembled TD noise responses, implying that children with ASD process speech in quiet only as well as TD children do in background noise.

Research paper thumbnail of Auditory training improves neural timing in the human brainstem

Behavioural Brain Research, 2005

The auditory brainstem response reflects neural encoding of the acoustic characteristic of a spee... more The auditory brainstem response reflects neural encoding of the acoustic characteristic of a speech syllable with remarkable precision. Some children with learning impairments demonstrate abnormalities in this preconscious measure of neural encoding especially in background noise.

Research paper thumbnail of Musical experience shapes human brainstem encoding of linguistic pitch patterns

Nature Neuroscience, 2007

Music and speech are very cognitively demanding auditory phenomena generally attributed to cortic... more Music and speech are very cognitively demanding auditory phenomena generally attributed to cortical rather than subcortical circuitry. We examined brainstem encoding of linguistic pitch and found that musicians show more robust and faithful encoding compared with nonmusicians. These results not only implicate a common subcortical manifestation for two presumed cortical functions, but also a possible reciprocity of corticofugal speech and music tuning, providing neurophysiological explanations for musicians' higher language-learning ability.

Research paper thumbnail of Brainstem responses to speech syllables

Clinical Neurophysiology, 2004

Objective: To establish reliable procedures and normative values to quantify brainstem encoding o... more Objective: To establish reliable procedures and normative values to quantify brainstem encoding of speech sounds. Methods: Auditory brainstem responses to speech syllables presented in quiet and in background noise were obtained from 38 normal children. Brainstem responses consist of transient and sustained, periodic components-much like the speech signal itself. Transient peak responses were analyzed with measures of latency, amplitude, area, and slope. Magnitude of sustained, periodic frequency-following responses was assessed with root mean square, fundamental frequency, and first formant amplitudes; timing was assessed by stimulus-toresponse and quiet-to-noise inter-response correlations.

Research paper thumbnail of Brainstem responses to speech syllables

Clinical Neurophysiology, 2004

Objective: To establish reliable procedures and normative values to quantify brainstem encoding o... more Objective: To establish reliable procedures and normative values to quantify brainstem encoding of speech sounds. Methods: Auditory brainstem responses to speech syllables presented in quiet and in background noise were obtained from 38 normal children. Brainstem responses consist of transient and sustained, periodic components-much like the speech signal itself. Transient peak responses were analyzed with measures of latency, amplitude, area, and slope. Magnitude of sustained, periodic frequency-following responses was assessed with root mean square, fundamental frequency, and first formant amplitudes; timing was assessed by stimulus-toresponse and quiet-to-noise inter-response correlations.