Michelle R Ciucci, PhD
Associate Professor
Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
ciucci@surgery.wisc.edu
(608) 263-0192
1300 University Ave
MC 1509
Madison, WI 53706
Education
- PhD, Speech and Hearing Science & Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tuscon, AZ, 2006
Research Interests
Dr. Ciucci’s research interests focus on the neurobiological and behavioral underpinnings of cranial sensorimotor control. She is currently exploring the effects of degenerative neurologic disease-induced deficits on voice, speech, and swallowing (oromotor function) using both clinical and basic science methods. Her clinical studies on swallowing focus on the fine motor skills required to generate subtle changes in pressure generation during the pharyngeal stage of swallowing, considering the influence of disease state, therapy, and medications on these processes. She also studies Parkinson disease to examine the impact of early sensorimotor training approaches on functional improvement of vocalization and swallow behaviors, as well as the underlying neural substrates of exercise-induced brain changes. She explores how anti-Parkinson medications influence complex sensorimotor enrichment outcomes. Dr. Ciucci believes understanding these processes will lead to better treatments and functional outcomes for patients with Parkinson disease and other neurologic disorders.
Recent Publications
Swallowing Pressure Variability as a Function of Pharyngeal Region, Bolus Volume, Age, and Sex.
Jones CA, Ciucci MR, Abdelhalim SM, McCulloch TM
Laryngoscope 2020 Apr 18;
[PubMed ID: 32304341]Changes to Ventilation, Vocalization, and Thermal Nociception in the Pink1-/- Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease.
Johnson RA, Kelm-Nelson CA, Ciucci MR
J Parkinsons Dis 2020; 10(2): 489-504
[PubMed ID: 32065805]Research-based Updates in Swallowing and Communication Dysfunction in Parkinson Disease: Implications for Evaluation and Management.
Broadfoot CK, Abur D, Hoffmeister JD, Stepp CE, Ciucci MR
Perspect ASHA Spec Interest Groups 2019 Oct; 4(5): 825-841
[PubMed ID: 32104723]Intervention changes acoustic peak frequency and mesolimbic neurochemistry in the Pink1-/- rat model of Parkinson disease.
Stevenson SA, Ciucci MR, Kelm-Nelson CA
PLoS ONE 2019; 14(8): e0220734
[PubMed ID: 31374106]Laryngeal muscle biology in the Pink1-/- rat model of Parkinson disease.
Glass TJ, Kelm-Nelson CA, Russell JA, Szot JC, Lake JM, Connor NP, Ciucci MR
J. Appl. Physiol. 2019 May 01; 126(5): 1326-1334
[PubMed ID: 30844333]