Loonan Chauvette
PhD Candidate in Rehabilitation Sciences
Université Laval, Québec, Canada
I am a doctoral researcher at the École de réadaptation at Université Laval, working under the supervision of Professor Andréanne Sharp, PhD. My research explores the intersection of auditory and tactile perception, with a focus on developing sensory substitution technologies and timbre perception.
Audiologist
Clinique MultiSens, Lévis, Canada
I graduated with an M. Aud. from Université Laval in 2022, and now work in a private practice with a general population.
Research Interests
Multisensory Integration & Cross-Modal Plasticity
Investigating how the brain integrates information from auditory and tactile sensory channels, and how neuroplastic changes such as auditory training or sensory privation modifies cross-modal processing.
Timbre Perception Across Modalities
Examining the perception of timbre across both auditory and vibrotactile contexts. This includes understanding which acoustic features can be effectively translated to vibrotactile sensations and how musical training influences these perceptual abilities.
Assistive Technology Development
Designing and validating novel sensory substitution and augmentation devices, including the multichannel vibrotactile glove, to provide tactile representations of complex auditory information. The goal is to develop clinically viable tools that can enhance music perception, speech understanding, and overall quality of life for individuals with hearing impairments.
Psychoacoustics & Auditory Scene Analysis
Utilizing psychophysical methods and electrophysiological techniques to understand how people process spectral and temporal acoustic cues, including in complex listening environments.