The functional organization of the auditory brain engenders us with the fundamental capacity to find meaning in sound, which allows us to communicate with one another and to interact with the external world. My research focuses on how auditory brain circuits become organized in development and how this organization becomes disturbed in disorders of hearing such as hearing loss, hyperacusis and tinnitus. I combine electrophysiological and optical techniques to delineate the organization and strength of excitatory and inhibitory neural circuits that support hearing.
Publications:
Sturm, J, J., Zhang-Hooks Y, X., Roos, H., Nguyen, T., Kandler, K. (2017). Noise Trauma-Induced Gap Detection Deficits Correlate with Reorganization of Excitatory and Inhibitory Local Circuits in the Inferior Colliculus and Are Prevented by Acoustic Enrichment. Journal of Neuroscience, 37(26), 6314-6330
Sturm, J, J., Nguyen, T., Kandler, K. (2016). Mapping Auditory Synaptic Circuits with Photostimulation of Caged Glutamate. Methods Mol Biol, 1427, 525-37
Sturm, J, J., Weisz, C, J. (2015). Hyperactivity in the medial olivocochlear efferent system is a common feature of tinnitus and hyperacusis in humans. Journal of Neurophysiology, 114(5), 2551-4
Sturm, J, J., Nguyen, T., Kandler, K. (2014). Developmental Refinement of Intrinsic Connections in the Mouse Inferior Colliculus. Journal of Neuroscience, 34(45), 15032-15046
I am interested in applications of Neurostimulation in Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery. One exciting technique that has recently been developed for the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea is Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation, where ultra-selective nerve stimulation is used to precisely target and activate tongue muscles that open up the airway during sleep. My research has focused on understanding precisely how this stimulation can be optimized to improve patients’ breathing during sleep.
Publications:
Sturm, J. J., Modik, O., Koutsourelaki, I., Suurna, M. V. (2020). Contralateral Tongue Muscle Activation During Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 152(6), 985-992
Sturm, J. J., Lee, C. H., Modik, O., Suurna, M. V. (2020). Intraoperative identification of mixed activation profiles during hypoglossal nerve stimulation. J Clin Sleep Med, 16(10), 1769-1774
Sturm, J. J., Modik, O., Suurna, M. V. (2020). Neurophsyiological monitoring of tongue muscle activation during hypoglossal nerve stimulation. Laryngoscope, 130(7), 1836-1843
Image credit Dr. Sarah Maurrasse , MD
Cochlear Implantation is a truly revolutionary technology that is able to restore the sense of hearing for many with profound hearing loss. I am particularly interested in how cochlear implants integrate with the brain, how they can be designed to optimize speech perception, and in the economics of delivering this technology to those who need it most.
Sturm, J. J., Ma, C., McRackan, T. R., Schvartz-Leyzac, K. C. (2024). Frequency-to-Place Mismatch Impacts Cochlear Implant Quality of Life, But Not Speech Recognition. Laryngoscope, 134(6), 2898-2905.
Sturm, J. J., Brandner, G., Ma, C., Schvartz-Leyzac, K. C., Dubno, J. R., McRackan, T. R. (2023). Why Do Candidates Forgo Cochlear Implantation? Laryngoscope, 133(12), 3548-3553.
Sturm, J. J., Vicario-Quinones, F., Shavit, S. S., Lalwani, A. K. (2021). Is Unilateral Cochlear Implantation Cost-Effective for the Treatment of Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss? Laryngoscope, 131(3), 460-461.
Sturm, J. J., Shavit, S. S., Vicario-Quinones, F., Lalwani, A. K. (2021). Is Bilateral Cochlear Implantation Cost-Effective Compared to Unilateral Cochlear Implantation? Laryngoscope, 131(5), 947-949.
Sturm, J. J., Patel, V., Dibelius, G., Kuhlmey, M., Kim, A. H. (2021). Comparative Performance of Lateral Wall and Perimodiolar Cochlear Implant Arrays. Otology & Neurotology, 42(4), 532-539.
Sturm, J. J., Kuhlmey, M., Alexiades, G., Hoffman, R., Kim, A. H. (2021). Comparison of Speech Performance in Bimodal versus Bilateral Cochlear Implant Users. Laryngoscope, 131(4), E1322-E1327.
Hwa T, P., Sturm, J. J., Losenegger, T.,…….Kim, A. (2020). Impact of Underlying Diagnosis on Speech and Quality of Life Outcomes After Cochlear Implantation for Single-Sided Deafness. Otology & Neurotology, 41(4), e432-e440.
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