CENTER FACILITIES

 

Clinical Hearing Research Lab: This lab is used to carry out sophisticated psychophysical and electroacoustic tests on normal and hearing impaired subjects and to evaluate hearing aids.

Animal Surgery Suite: The Center has dedicated space within the Lab Animal Facility.  The lab is equipped with stereotaxic frame with microdrive, operating microscope, sterilizer, surgical drill, fiber optic operating light source, evoked potential system for generating sound and acquiring data.

Anatomy Lab: Three compound microscopes, two with a fluorescence capability and digital camera, ultramicrotome, freezing microtome, rotary microtome, 3 dissecting microscopes, water purification system, 2 temperature controlled ovens, low temperature freezer, ice maker.

 

Single Unit Physiology Labs: Two labs each equipped with sound booths, operating microscope, hydraulic microdrives, microionotophoresis unit, electrode pullers, compound microscope, computer systems coupled to appropriate A/D, D/A and other hardware for sound generation and data acquisition.

 

 

 

Chinchilla Animal Psychophysics Lab: Four sound booths each coupled to a computer with TDT A/D, D/A and other hardware for generating sound and acquiring behavioral responses or evoked potentials.

 

 

 

Brain Slice Lab: Vibration isolation table, microscope with infrared optics, infrared camera, patch clamp amplifier, stimulus isolation unit, micromanipulators, vibratome, operating microscope, computer with A/D and D/A converter, and software for analyzing local field potentials and whole cell currents.

 

 

 

Psychoacoustic Lab: Five subject work stations equipped with state-of-the-art signal generators and acquisition hardware for conducting experiments in auditory psychophysics, speech perception, and evoked potentials.  This lab has extensive test and measurement equipment.

 

 

 

Inner Ear Patch Clamp Lab: Vibration isolation table, 2 patch clamp amplifier, inverted microscope, digital camera, frame grabber, computer, video recorder, video monitor, micromanipulators, microelectrode puller, A/D and D/A converter for collecting whole cell and single cell data, and software for data analysis.

 

 

 

 

Human and Mouse Evoked Potential Lab: Nicolet signal averager, spectrum analyzer, TDT hardware for sound generation and data acquisition, slide scanner, 3 computers, attenuators, power amplifiers.

 

 

 

Cell Culture Lab: Three incubators, laminar flow hood and biological hood, inverted microscope with fluorescence capability, dye sublimation printer, digital camera, computer, and software for image processing and data analysis, refrigerator.

 

 

 

Noise Exposure Lab: Two sound booths each coupled to a computer with A/D and D/A converters for generating sound, 3 sound level meters, power amplifiers, attenuators. 

 

 

 

 

 

Mouse Evoked Response and Startle Lab: Two computers, TDT hardware for sound generation and data acquisition, Med Associates Startle response system for measuring startle response, temperature control monitor, operating microscope, sound level meter.

 

 

 

 

Molecular Biology and Cell Biology Lab: Two PCR thermocyclers, a quantitative RT-PCR machine, gel electrophoresis equipment, high-speed centrifuge, sterilizer, 2 spectrophotometers, freezers, refrigerators.

 

 

 

Rat Psychophysics Lab: Six computers, 6 sound chambers, and TDT equipment for sound generation and data acquisition, behavioral conditioning chambers with associated hardware to deliver sound, food, or shock and to measure licks or bar presses.

Human Psychophysics Lab: Audiometer, impedance bridge, sound booth, scanner, and 6 computers with extensive TDT hardware for sound generation and data acquisition.

Audiology Clinic:  Otoacoustic emission system, computer, and TDT equipment for measuring evoked potentials.

Evoked Potential and Otoacoustic Emission Lab: Three sound booths each equipped with a computer and A/D, D/A and other hardware for sound generation and data acquisition.  One computer for data analysis.