Kristina Simonyan,
MD, PhD, Dr med
Massachusetts Eye and Ear
Director of Laryngology Research
Vice Chair of Clinical Research
Harvard Medical School
Professor of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
simonyan_lab@meei.harvard.edu
For investigator inquiries only
About My Research
Dr. Kristina Simonyan studies the neural mechanisms of normal and diseased speech motor control and other complex human behaviors. Her clinical research program is focused on focal dystonias, with a special emphasis on spasmodic dysphonia (laryngeal dystonia), as well as tremor, Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy.
Her work includes the use of multimodal brain imaging, advanced machine learning, neuropathological evaluations, genetic analysis, and clinical trials for identification of the causative pathophysiology of dystonia and other movement disorders and the development of novel opportunities for their objective diagnosis, prediction of risk, and treatment.
Publications powered by Harvard Catalyst Profiles
- Failure to breathe persists without air hunger or alarm following amygdala seizures. JCI Insight. 2023 Nov 22; 8(22).
- Temporal Signature of Task-Specificity in Isolated Focal Laryngeal Dystonia. Mov Disord. 2023 10; 38(10):1925-1935.
- Sodium Oxybate in Alcohol-Responsive Essential Tremor of Voice: An Open-Label Phase II Study. Mov Disord. 2023 10; 38(10):1936-1944.
- Clinical Implications of Dystonia as a Neural Network Disorder. Adv Neurobiol. 2023; 31:223-240.
- Graph-theoretical insights into the effects of aging on the speech production network. Cereb Cortex. 2023 02 20; 33(5):2162-2173.
- Sensory processing in the auditory and olfactory domains is normal in laryngeal dystonia. J Neurol. 2023 Apr; 270(4):2184-2190.
- DystoniaBoTXNet: Novel Neural Network Biomarker of Botulinum Toxin Efficacy in Isolated Dystonia. Ann Neurol. 2023 03; 93(3):460-471.
- Multimodal collaborative brain-computer interfaces aid human-machine team decision-making in a pandemic scenario. J Neural Eng. 2022 10 17; 19(5).
- Brain-Computer Interfaces for Treatment of Focal Dystonia. Mov Disord. 2022 09; 37(9):1798-1802.
- Short- and Long-term Central Action of Botulinum Neurotoxin Treatment in Laryngeal Dystonia. Neurology. 2022 09 13; 99(11):e1178-e1190.
- The dynamic connectome of speech control. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2021 10 25; 376(1836):20200256.
- Association of Sinonasal Inflammation With Functional Brain Connectivity. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2021 06 01; 147(6):534-543.
- Laryngeal Dystonia: Multidisciplinary Update on Terminology, Pathophysiology, and Research Priorities. Neurology. 2021 05 25; 96(21):989-1001.
- Suicidal Ideations and Attempts in Patients With Isolated Dystonia. Neurology. 2021 03 16; 96(11):e1551-e1560.
- Neural endophenotypes and predictors of laryngeal dystonia penetrance and manifestation. Neurobiol Dis. 2021 01; 148:105223.
- A microstructural neural network biomarker for dystonia diagnosis identified by a DystoniaNet deep learning platform. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 10 20; 117(42):26398-26405.
- Neural Representations of the Voice Tremor Spectrum. Mov Disord. 2020 12; 35(12):2290-2300.
- The large-scale structural connectome of task-specific focal dystonia. Hum Brain Mapp. 2020 08 15; 41(12):3253-3265.
- Defining research priorities in dystonia. Neurology. 2020 03 24; 94(12):526-537.
- Normal Temporal Discrimination in Musician's Dystonia Is Linked to Aberrant Sensorimotor Processing. Mov Disord. 2020 05; 35(5):800-807.
- Sexual Dimorphism Within Brain Regions Controlling Speech Production. Front Neurosci. 2019; 13:795.
- The extrinsic risk and its association with neural alterations in spasmodic dysphonia. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2019 08; 65:117-123.
- Top-down alteration of functional connectivity within the sensorimotor network in focal dystonia. Neurology. 2019 04 16; 92(16):e1843-e1851.
- Functional and structural neural bases of task specificity in isolated focal dystonia. Mov Disord. 2019 04; 34(4):555-563.
- Cognitive performance in mid-stage Parkinson's disease: functional connectivity under chronic antiparkinson treatment. Brain Imaging Behav. 2019 Feb; 13(1):200-209.
- Recent advances in understanding the role of the basal ganglia. F1000Res. 2019; 8.
- A separation of innate and learned vocal behaviors defines the symptomatology of spasmodic dysphonia. Laryngoscope. 2019 07; 129(7):1627-1633.
- A novel therapeutic agent, sodium oxybate, improves dystonic symptoms via reduced network-wide activity. Sci Rep. 2018 10 31; 8(1):16111.
- Neuroimaging Applications in Dystonia. Int Rev Neurobiol. 2018; 143:1-30.
- Task-specificity in focal dystonia is shaped by aberrant diversity of a functional network kernel. Mov Disord. 2018 12; 33(12):1918-1927.
- Molecular Deconvolution Platform to Establish Disease Mechanisms by Surveying GPCR Signaling. Cell Rep. 2018 07 17; 24(3):557-568.e5.
- Connectivity profiles of the insular network for speech control in healthy individuals and patients with spasmodic dysphonia. Brain Struct Funct. 2018 Jun; 223(5):2489-2498.
- Polygenic Risk of Spasmodic Dysphonia is Associated With Vulnerable Sensorimotor Connectivity. Cereb Cortex. 2018 01 01; 28(1):158-166.
- Dopamine drives left-hemispheric lateralization of neural networks during human speech. J Comp Neurol. 2018 04 01; 526(5):920-931.
- Phenomenology, genetics, and CNS network abnormalities in laryngeal dystonia: A 30-year experience. Laryngoscope. 2018 01; 128 Suppl 1:S1-S9.
- The direct basal ganglia pathway is hyperfunctional in focal dystonia. Brain. 2017 12 01; 140(12):3179-3190.
- Practice does not make perfect: Temporal discrimination in musicians with and without dystonia. Mov Disord. 2017 12; 32(12):1791-1792.
- Connectome-Wide Phenotypical and Genotypical Associations in Focal Dystonia. J Neurosci. 2017 08 02; 37(31):7438-7449.
- Screening study of TUBB4A in isolated dystonia. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2017 Aug; 41:118-120.
- Central voice production and pathophysiology of spasmodic dysphonia. Laryngoscope. 2018 01; 128(1):177-183.
- Phenotype- and genotype-specific structural alterations in spasmodic dysphonia. Mov Disord. 2017 04; 32(4):560-568.
- Neural correlates of dystonic tremor: a multimodal study of voice tremor in spasmodic dysphonia. Brain Imaging Behav. 2017 02; 11(1):166-175.
- Isolated Focal Dystonia as a Disorder of Large-Scale Functional Networks. Cereb Cortex. 2017 02 01; 27(2):1203-1215.
- Functional Genomic Analyses of Mendelian and Sporadic Disease Identify Impaired eIF2a Signaling as a Generalizable Mechanism for Dystonia. Neuron. 2016 Dec 21; 92(6):1238-1251.
- New Developments in Understanding the Complexity of Human Speech Production. J Neurosci. 2016 11 09; 36(45):11440-11448.
- An open-label study of sodium oxybate in Spasmodic dysphonia. Laryngoscope. 2017 06; 127(6):1402-1407.
- Stability of Network Communities as a Function of Task Complexity. J Cogn Neurosci. 2016 Dec; 28(12):2030-2043.
- High-frequency brain networks undergo modular breakdown during epileptic seizures. Epilepsia. 2016 07; 57(7):1097-108.
- Structural Organization of the Laryngeal Motor Cortical Network and Its Implication for Evolution of Speech Production. J Neurosci. 2016 Apr 13; 36(15):4170-81.
- GNAL mutation in isolated laryngeal dystonia. Mov Disord. 2016 05; 31(5):750-5.
- Neural correlates of abnormal sensory discrimination in laryngeal dystonia. Neuroimage Clin. 2016; 10:18-26.
- The Functional Connectome of Speech Control. PLoS Biol. 2015 Jul; 13(7):e1002209.
- Alcohol responsiveness in laryngeal dystonia: a survey study. J Neurol. 2015 Jun; 262(6):1548-56.
- Speech networks at rest and in action: interactions between functional brain networks controlling speech production. J Neurophysiol. 2015 Apr 01; 113(7):2967-78.
- Negative dystonia of the palate: a novel entity and diagnostic consideration in hypernasal speech. Laryngoscope. 2015 Jun; 125(6):1426-32.
- A neural population model incorporating dopaminergic neurotransmission during complex voluntary behaviors. PLoS Comput Biol. 2014 Nov; 10(11):e1003924.
- What's special about task in dystonia? A voxel-based morphometry and diffusion weighted imaging study. Mov Disord. 2014 Aug; 29(9):1141-50.
- The laryngeal motor cortex: its organization and connectivity. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2014 Oct; 28:15-21.
- Long-term Effect of Sodium Oxybate (Xyrem®) in Spasmodic Dysphonia with Vocal Tremor. Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y). 2013; 3.
- Striatal dopaminergic dysfunction at rest and during task performance in writer's cramp. Brain. 2013 Dec; 136(Pt 12):3645-58.
- Abnormal striatal dopaminergic neurotransmission during rest and task production in spasmodic dysphonia. J Neurosci. 2013 Sep 11; 33(37):14705-14.
- PET neuroimaging: plenty of studies still need to be performed: comment on Cumming: PET neuroimaging: the white elephant packs his trunk?. Neuroimage. 2014 Jan 01; 84:1101-3.
- Primary dystonia: conceptualizing the disorder through a structural brain imaging lens. Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y). 2013; 3.
- Whispering dysphonia (DYT4 dystonia) is caused by a mutation in the TUBB4 gene. Ann Neurol. 2013 Apr; 73(4):537-45.
- Speech-induced striatal dopamine release is left lateralized and coupled to functional striatal circuits in healthy humans: a combined PET, fMRI and DTI study. Neuroimage. 2013 Apr 15; 70:21-32.
- Combined laryngeal inflammation and trauma mediate long-lasting immunoreactivity response in the brainstem sensory nuclei in the rat. Front Integr Neurosci. 2012; 6:97.
- Commentary on Bilateral cerebellar stroke presenting with acute dysphonia and late palatal tremor. Mov Disord. 2012 Mar; 27(3):348.
- Dopamine regulation of human speech and bird song: a critical review. Brain Lang. 2012 Sep; 122(3):142-50.
- Abnormal structure-function relationship in spasmodic dysphonia. Cereb Cortex. 2012 Feb; 22(2):417-25.
- Laryngeal motor cortex and control of speech in humans. Neuroscientist. 2011 Apr; 17(2):197-208.
- Neuroanatomical changes due to hearing loss and chronic tinnitus: a combined VBM and DTI study. Brain Res. 2011 Jan 19; 1369:74-88.
- Abnormal activation of the primary somatosensory cortex in spasmodic dysphonia: an fMRI study. Cereb Cortex. 2010 Nov; 20(11):2749-59.
- Brainstem pathology in spasmodic dysphonia. Laryngoscope. 2010 Jan; 120(1):121-4.
- Functional but not structural networks of the human laryngeal motor cortex show left hemispheric lateralization during syllable but not breathing production. J Neurosci. 2009 Nov 25; 29(47):14912-23.
- Sensory stimulation activates both motor and sensory components of the swallowing system. Neuroimage. 2008 Aug 01; 42(1):285-95.
- Focal white matter changes in spasmodic dysphonia: a combined diffusion tensor imaging and neuropathological study. Brain. 2008 Feb; 131(Pt 2):447-59.
- Functional neuroanatomy of human voluntary cough and sniff production. Neuroimage. 2007 Aug 15; 37(2):401-9.
- Human brain activation during phonation and exhalation: common volitional control for two upper airway functions. Neuroimage. 2007 May 15; 36(1):131-43.
- Human cortical motor representation of the larynx as assessed by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Laryngoscope. 2004 May; 114(5):918-22.
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