Welcome Dr. Katherine Becker!

My research area focuses on assessing the neural mechanisms underlying the hearing impairments preceding the onset of cognitive decline in older individuals with age-related hearing loss (ARHL) using magnetoencephalography (MEG). This project will incorporate machine learning and neuropsychological measures, with a special emphasis on the potential of hearing augmentation to improve cognitive function. Using this approach, measures of network synchrony between Heschl's gyrus and a network of brain regions will be used as predictors of cognitive improvement before and after 3-months of hearing augmentation use in individuals with ARHL.

I graduated magna cum laude with two bachelor's degrees (a B.S. in Neuroscience and a B.A. in German) from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2012. After completing my undergraduate degrees I worked at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in the Center for Magnetoencephalography for two years as a professional research assistant. I received my PhD in Psychology with a focus in Cognitive Neuroscience at Colorado State University in 2020.

I enjoy hiking, swimming, traveling to new countries, and drawing and painting.