# Statistical inference in the auditory system

> **NSF 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · Johns Hopkins University (MD) · $450,028

## Abstract

Every day, our brains seamlessly pick out meaningful information from the cacophony of sounds that enters our ears. This ability to make sense of our acoustic surroundings relies on the brain being able to recognize patterns and predict what might come next. However, in real-world environments, sounds are rarely perfectly predictable, raising the question: how does the brain track information when patterns are uncertain or incomplete? This research seeks to understand how the brain extracts and organizes auditory information from complex, dynamic soundscapes. The work has broad implications for real-world applications, from improved audio technologies and assistive listening devices to shedding light on auditory processing challenges in specific clinical populations. 

The project explores how the brain infers statistical structure from sound sequences, focusing on the way it builds an internal model of the world to interpret and predict auditory experiences. While past research has shown that the brain can recognize predictable patterns in sound, real-world listening often involves incomplete or stochastic sounds, making it unclear how this predictive process functions in natural environments. The investigator uses a combination of computational modeling, behavioral testing, and neurophysiological (EEG) experiments to study how the brain tracks complex statistical relationships and deeper temporal and multi-feature dependencies in sound sequences to guide perception. Indiv

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2444353
- **Awardee organization:** Johns Hopkins University (MD)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** FTMTDMBR29C7
- **PI:** Mounya Elhilali
- **Primary program:** 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** Perception, Action and Cognition
- **Estimated total:** $450,028
- **Funds obligated:** $450,028
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 07/01/2025 → 06/30/2028

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2444353

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2444353, Statistical inference in the auditory system. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-08 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2444353. Licensed CC0.

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