Professor, Communication Science and Disorders University of Pittsburgh Phone: (412) 383-6544 Email: kittie@csd.pitt.edu

Ph. D., Washington University, St. Louis, MO

Research Interests

Dr. Verdolini is Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. Her specialty within CSD is voice disorders and their treatment. Relevant for her membership in the CNBC, her Ph.D. is in Experimental Psychology-Cognitive Science, from Washington University in St. Louis (1991). A primary research interest is cognitive substrates of motor learning, and their relevance for voice and speech therapy models. Within this domain, her research has focused on explicit versus implicit memory phenomena within motor learning, for hand-eye coordination and voice tasks. A more recent interest has been the neurophysiological correlates of such memory phenomena, as assessed using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. She recently completed work on a K23 Award from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders for her research in cognitive neuroscience, and currently holds an R01 Award from the same institution.

Recent Publications

• Puts DA, Caulin SJC, Verdolini K: Dominance and the evolution of sexual dimorphism in human voice pitch. Evolution and Human Behavior 27: 283-296, 2006.
• Branski RC, Sandulache VC, Rosen CA, Verdolini K, Hebda PA: Vocal fold wound healing: A reiewfor clinicians. J Voice 20(3): 432-442, 2006.
• Walsh J, Branski RC, Verdolini K: Double=blind study on the effects of topical anesthesia on vocal fold secretions. J Voice 20(2): 282-290, 2006.
• Yiu EML, Verdolini K, Chow LPW: Effect of concurrent and terminal electromyographic biofeedback on laryngeal muscle relaxation in phonation. J Speech-Language-Hearing Resarch 58(6): 1254-1268, 2005.
• Branski RC, Rosen CA, Verdolini K, Hebda PA: Biomedhanical markers associated with wound healing: A rabbit model. J Voice 19(2: 283-289, 2005.
• Branski RC, Rosen CA, Verdolini K, Hebda PA: Acute vocal fold wound healing in a rabbit model. Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology 114: 19-24, 2005.
• Verdolini, K: Voice therapy for adults. In R Kent (ed), MIT Encyclopedia of Communication Disorder, 88-90: Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2004.
• Verdolini, K. Professional Voice Users: Occupational Risks for Voice Problems, Functional Consequences, and Voice Therapy. In Kent R (Ed), MIT Encyclopedia of Communication Disorders,95-98: Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2004.
• Roth D, Verdolini K: Occupational issues in voice problems. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Division 3 Perspectives on Voice and Voice Disorders 13(1): 8-14, 2003.
• Roth D, Verdolini K: Many methods for improved vocal results: a review of several commonly used structured voice therapy programs. Voice Talk (Canadian Voice Care Foundation) 7: 3-9, 2002.
• Roth D, Branski R, Verdolini K: The body-voice connection. Voice Talk (Canadian Voice Care Foundation) 6: 3-6, 2002.
• Verdolini K: Learning Science Applied to Voice Training: The Value of Being “In the Moment.” Choral Journal 42(7): 47-51, 2002.