Welcome to elisepiazza.com – A Window into the Science of Human Communication
At the heart of communication lies connection — between minds, between voices, and between people. At elisepiazza.com, we delve into the neuroscience of communication in its most natural and dynamic forms. This site showcases the research, publications, and public engagement work of Dr. Elise A. Piazza, Assistant Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the University of Rochester, and director of the SoNIC (Science of Neural, Interpersonal Communication) Lab.
Our mission is to uncover how human brains connect during real-life interactions — especially in the realms of speech, music, and learning. From infants synchronizing with caregivers to musicians adapting in live performance, the goal is to understand how brains become aligned in time and meaning.
Who We Are
Elise A. Piazza, Ph.D. is a cognitive neuroscientist with a passion for exploring how people communicate in the real world. With a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley and postdoctoral training at the Princeton Neuroscience Institute, her work spans perception, production, music, language, and the social dynamics that tie them all together. She specializes in naturalistic neuroscience — studying people in dynamic, interactive settings, not just in labs.
Dr. Piazza and her collaborators have contributed widely to the scientific understanding of neural coupling, the statistics of natural sound, and how brains organize information during communication. Her work is featured in peer-reviewed journals, popular media outlets, and conferences across disciplines.
Our Vision
At elisepiazza.com, we believe that understanding communication means embracing its richness and variability. We approach communication science as:
- Naturalistic: Studying people in real-time, real-world contexts like conversations, storytelling, and musical performance.
- Interpersonal: Focusing on dyads and groups, measuring not just individual brains but how they synchronize.
- Multimodal: Integrating audio, video, language, brain data (e.g., fMRI, EEG, fNIRS), and behavioral metrics.
Whether it’s a baby learning new words or two people improvising a melody, we seek to illuminate the cognitive and neural machinery that makes human connection possible.
What You’ll Find Here
This website is your hub for all things related to Dr. Elise Piazza’s research and outreach efforts. Key features include:
- Research Summaries: Get accessible explanations of key findings, current projects, and lab updates.
- Publications: Explore peer-reviewed articles, preprints, and conference talks.
- Blog Posts: Read about emerging topics in neuroscience, music cognition, and language development.
- News & Media: See how the lab’s work is featured in outlets like Scientific American and The Atlantic.
- Join the Lab: Learn about opportunities for graduate students, postdocs, and collaborators.
We also share insights from the SoNIC Lab, which Dr. Piazza directs. SoNIC studies how interpersonal brain and behavior synchrony supports communication, learning, and creativity.
Who Is This Site For?
Our content is designed for a broad audience:
- Researchers and academics in neuroscience, psychology, linguistics, and music cognition
- Students looking for insights into brain science and naturalistic communication
- Musicians, educators, and clinicians interested in the brain basis of learning and expression
- General readers who want to understand how people connect and learn through sound
Let’s Connect
We welcome curiosity, collaboration, and questions. If you’d like to learn more, invite Dr. Piazza to speak, or explore partnership opportunities, please visit our Contact Us page or email us at elisepizza49@gmail.com.
Thank you for visiting elisepiazza.com — where sound, science, and the human mind come together.