Andrew Dimitrijevic

Dr. Dimitrijevic’s lab studies the physiology of human hearing in both normal hearing and hearing impaired populations. They use electroencephalograms, also known as EEG or “brain waves,” to understand the neural mechanisms of how sound is processed and perceived.

A major focus of the lab is cochlear implants. The cochlear implant is a modern-day medical miracle. It allows people who are deaf to regain hearing by stimulating the auditory nerve and creating neural impulses that reach the brain and lead to sound perception. People with cochlear implants may hear well in quiet settings but experience difficulties in everyday listening environments, such as following a conversation during a cocktail party. The goal of this research is to understand better the brain mechanisms of hearing with a cochlear implant and use this knowledge to improve outcomes after cochlear implantation.

The lab also studies sensory and cognitive factors related to hearing. Hearing is both a peripheral (ear) and cognitive (brain) process. The cognitive aspects of hearing, such as attention and memory, become crucial when listening in noisy environments. This is especially true for older people or those with hearing impairment. Therefore another focus of the lab is to study the neural mechanisms associated with attention and working memory. The goal of this research is to dissociate sensory and cognitive aspects of impaired hearing and provide clinicians with improved tools and strategies for rehabilitation.

Education

• B.Sc. (Hons), 1996, Physiology, University of Toronto, Canada
• M.Sc., 1999, Zoology, University of Toronto, Canada
• PhD, 2003, Neuroscience, University of Toronto, Canada

Appointments & Affiliations

• Scientist, Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Associate Professor University of Toronto
• Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
• Department of Physiology
• Research director, Sunnybrook Cochlear Implant Program