Dear All
With
Iran Roman we are looking for PhD students to join us at C4DM in London to work on:
Neural Resonance and the Perception of Timbre: A Neurodynamic Modeling Approach
The perception of timbre is central to auditory recognition, yet its neurodynamic basis remains underexplored compared to pitch or rhythm. Neural Resonance Theory (NRT) posits that musical experience arises from brain-body dynamics entraining to structured sound, resulting in stable, pattern-forming oscillatory activity. Recent models of cochlear and brainstem activity using nonlinear resonator networks provide biologically grounded support for this view. This project investigates how networks of nonlinear oscillators and recurrent neural networks (RNNs) respond to stimuli varying only in timbre (e.g., sinusoids, violin, voice), aiming to identify differential resonance patterns attributable to spectral characteristics alone. In parallel, RNNs trained on pitch tasks will be analyzed to determine whether their emergent internal dynamics replicate resonance phenomena. Finally, EEG recordings from human listeners will be used to detect entrainment signatures matching model predictions. This interdisciplinary approach offers a novel application of NRT to timbre perception, bridging biologically inspired modeling, machine learning, and empirical neuroscience.
Eligibility:
It is also possible to apply as a self-funded student OR with funding from another source, e.g., a local PhD studentship to study abroad.
Best wishes
Charis & Iran
-- Communication Acoustics Lab