Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Language Acquisition with AI | Tracy Centanni, M.S., Ph.D.

The vagus nerve plays a crucial role in the autonomic nervous system as it is responsible for many vital functions like adjusting heart rate, breathing and digestion among many others. Current research on the vagus nerve is looking at how stimulating the nerve can treat auditory and motor impairments and diseases. Our guest for this episode is University of Florida Associate Professor Tracy Centanni, M.S., Ph.D., to explain how vagus nerve stimulation intersects with screening and AI.  Key Learning Points:The inspiration for vagus nerve stimulation as an intervention for language interventionOther conditions vagus nerve stimulation could potentially treatScreening methods for auditory issuesThe challenges of training AI models for personalized medicine for conditions like dyslexiaFull Transcript Available on BuzzsproutAbout Tracy Centanni, M.S., Ph.D.Centanni is the Director of the Genetics of Auditory and visual Perception and Plasticity (GAPP) Lab in the College of Public Health and Health Professions at the University of Florida. Her research program focuses on the genetic and neural correlates of reading acquisition, factors that drive reading disorders (e.g., dyslexia), and neural plasticity including using non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation to improve reading and language.She received her Ph.D. in 2013 from the University of Texas at Dallas, using rat models to probe the influence of dyslexia-candidate genes on auditory perception. She then completed postdoctoral training at the MGH Institute of Health Professions and at MIT, with the goal of learning translational and clinically relevant research methods.Take our SurveyWe want to hear from YOU to ensure that we keep providing valuable content that reflects what our listeners and the SLAS community are interested in! Take our brief survey Stay connected with SLASOnline at www.slas.orgFacebookTwitter @SLAS_OrgLinkedInInstagram @slas_orgYouTubeAbout SLASSLAS (Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening) is an international professional society of academic, industry and government life sciences researchers and the developers and providers of laboratory automation technology. The SLAS mission is to bring together researchers in academia, industry and government to advance life sciences discovery and technology via education, knowledge exchange and global community building. Upcoming Events:SLAS Meet-UpsLeiden, Netherlands (10 September 2026)Tübingen, Germany (20 October 2026)SLAS 2026 Sample Management Symposium (October 21-22, 2026 | South San Francisco, California)SLAS2027 International Conference & Exhibition (January 30 - February 3, 2027 | San Diego, California)View the full events calendar