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Bio & Research focus
Zoe Cheng is a postdoctoral scholar at The Lab for Early Auditory Perception (LEAP) within I-LABS, also holding a position as a Data Science postdoctoral fellow at the eScience Institute. Zoe earned her Ph.D from UC San Diego Cognitive Science department in June 2023. Her research lies within the realm of human auditory processing, specifically focusing on music and speech. Utilizing data-driven computational models and non-invasive M/EEG, Zoe’s work investigates how adults and infants process rhythm and time duration within dynamically changing auditory stimuli.
One aspect of her research investigates speech perception, comparing the neural responses to one’s native versus nonnative languages that differ in short durations, known as voice-onset time. Her ultimate goal is to identify cortical and subcortical neural signatures of atypical language development and contribute to early diagnosis and intervention. Another key area of her work explores neural entrainment as a mechanism to elucidate music cognition. She delves into how the brain represents musical rhythm and engages in sensorimotor interaction in adults and infant population. She seeks to uncover the milestone of auditory-motor interaction in developing brains when 7 to 11 month-olds listen to musical rhythms and how the neural entrainment predicts later language skills.
Background
Zoe was born and raised in Taipei City, Taiwan. Later, she started her academic journey, moving to La Jolla, CA, to pursue her Ph.D. Following the completion of her doctoral studies, she has since relocated to Seattle, WA, where she is currently engaged in postdoctoral research.
Hobbies & Interests
Outside the laboratory, you can find Zoe surfing, paddling and kayaking on sunny days. Sometimes you might not find Zoe at all when she’s lost in space experimenting with some rhythms on her handpan. Check out more on her personal website!