Robert V. Harrison

Biography

Dr. Bob Harrison has basic training in physiology, with PhD and D.Sc. (Doctor of Science) degrees in auditory neuroscience. He has carried out research with groups in England, Germany, Japan, Sweden, France, the Netherlands and most recently in Canada and the U.S. Harrison’s early research work was concerned with the peripheral auditory system, including studies on the effects of cochlear haircell damage on the transduction and coding of sound. More recently, he has been exploring the functional and anatomical development of central auditory pathways, particularly the plasticity of auditory cortex. He has employed wide range of research methodologies including electrophysiology, histology, electron microscopy, behavioural psychophysics, and various neuro-imaging techniques. In addition to laboratory research, Harrison is involved in applied/clinical research including evoked potential and otoacoustic emission studies, and behavioural studies of speech and language development in children with cochlear implants. He has worked on several animal models of deafness including Meniere’s disease, auditory neuropathy, ototoxic drug induced hearing loss, acoustic trauma, age-related hearing loss and cytomegalovirus (CMV) ear infection. His work has been published in over 180 full, peer-reviewed papers and numerous book chapters. Presently, Harrison is a Senior Scientist and Director of the Auditory Science Laboratory in the Research Institute at SickKids. He is Professor and Vice-Chair – Research, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Toronto and he is also a Professor in the Department of Physiology, the Institute of Medical Science and the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, and a full member of the School of Graduate Studies.

Research Interest

Normal hearing and auditory brain development