Dr Adam Tierney

Positions held:

Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychological Sciences

Email

Birkbeck: a.tierney@bbk.ac.uk

Overview
Overview

Qualifications
- BSc, Cognitive Science, Indiana University, 2004
- PhD, Cognitive Science, University of California San Diego, 2010
ORCID
0000-0002-7624-6918
Research
Research

Research interests
- Attention (temporal, selective, dimensional, bottom-up)
- Individual differences in language learning
- Perceptual categorization strategies
Research overview

I an interested in the ways in which perceptual abilities lay the groundwork for language acquisition, as well as the interaction between perception and cognition. My laboratory makes use of behavioural techniques, as well as EEG. Current research projects include:
- Auditory processing as a foundation of individual differences in second language learning
- Distortions in time perception can act as a measure of the salience of sounds
- Effects of language experience on perceptual strategies and the salience of acoustic dimensions
- Neural mechanisms of temporally-selective attention to sound
Research Centres and Institutes
- Faculty member, Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development
Research projects

Individual differences in dimensional weighting in speech perception.

Abstract

Speech is a redundant signal that conveys information via multiple acoustic dimensions. In principle, therefore, speech perception could be carried out via multiple strategies. However, prior research has emphasized the optimal processing of the “ideal listener”, so little is known about what leads listeners to select different strategies and how they are carried out. We hypothesize that individuals who can more precisely encode an auditory dimension direct attention towards it, making that dimension more influential during perceptual categorization. In this project we are testing this hypothesis using measures of auditory processing to predict how listeners will perceive ambiguous stimuli.

Funded by
Leverhulme Trust

Lab information
- ALPHAlab
Post doctoral staff
- Dr. Ashley Symons
Supervision and teaching
Supervision and teaching

Supervision

Supervisions external to Birkbeck:

2

Supervisions within Birkbeck:

2

lab is open to applications for Masters and PhD Candidates as well as undergraduate volunteers; we particularly encourage people whose background is underrepresented in academia.

Current doctoral researchers
- EGOR LEVCHENKO
  
  Nature of supervision:
  Principal Supervisor, Oct 2021 onwards
Doctoral alumni since 2013-14
- MAGDALENA KACHLICKA
  
  Nature of supervision:
  Principal Supervisor, Oct 2020
  
  Title of thesis:
  Perceptual strategies underlying second language acquisition
  
  Awarded:
  2023
Teaching

Teaching modules
- MSc Psychology Dissertation (SCPS222D7)
Publications
Publications
Article
- Chen, Y. and Tierney, Adam and Pfordresher, P. (2025) Speech-to-song transformation in perception and production. Cognition 254, ISSN 0010-0277.
- Kachlicka, Magdalena and Symons, Ashley and Saito, Kazuya and Dick, Fred and Tierney, Adam (2024) Tone language experience enhances dimension-selective attention and subcortical encoding but not cortical entrainment to pitch. Imaging Neuroscience 2, pp. 1-19. ISSN 2837-6056.
- Kachlicka, Magdalena and Tierney, Adam (2024) Voice actors show enhanced neural tracking of pitch, prosody perception, and music perception. Cortex 178, pp. 213-222. ISSN 0010-9452.
- Ozaki, Y. and Tierney, Adam and Pfordresher, P. and McBride, J. and Benetos, E. and Proutskova, P. and Chiba, G. and Liu, F. and Jacoby, N. and Purdy, S. and Opondo, P. and Fitch, T. and Hegde, S. and Rocamora, M. and Thorne, R. and Nweke, F. and Sadaphal, D. and Sadaphal, P. and Hadavi, S. and Fujii, S. and Choo, S. and Naruse, M. and Ehara, U. and Sy, L. and Parselelo, M. and Angala-Tort, M. and Hansen, N. and Haiduk, F. and Faerovik, U. and Magalhaes, V. and Krzyzanowski, W. and Shcherbakova, O. and Hereld, D. and Barbosa, B. and Varella, M. and Tongeren, M. and Dessiatnitchenko, P. and Zar, S. and Kahla, I. and Muslu, O. and Troy, J. and Lomsadze, T. and Kurdova, D. and Tsope, C. and Fredriksson, D. and Arabadjiev, A. and Sarbah, J. and Arhine, A. and Meachair, T. and Silva-Zurita, J. and Soto-Silva, I. and Millalonco, N. and Ambrazevicius, R. and Loui, P. and Ravignani, A. and Jadoul, Y. and Larrouy-Maestri, P. and Bruder, C. and Teyxokawa, T. and Kuikuro, U. and Natsitsabui, R. and Sagarzazu, N. and Raviv, L. and Zeng, M. and Varnosfaderani, D. and Gomez-Canon, J. and Kolff, K. and Vanden Bosch der Nederlanden, C. and Chhatwal, M. and David, R. and Setiawan, I P. and Lekakul, G. and Borsan, V. and Nguqu, N. and Savage, P. (2024) Globally, songs and instrumental melodies are slower and higher and use more stable pitches than speech: a Registered Report. Science Advances 10 (20), ISSN 2375-2548.
- Kachlicka, Magdalena and Patel, A. and Liu, F. and Tierney, Adam (2024) Weighting of cues to categorization of song versus speech in tone-language and non-tone-language speakers. Cognition 246 (105757), ISSN 0010-0277.
- Caprini, Francesco and Zhao, Sijia and Chait, M. and Agus, T. and Pomper, U. and Tierney, Adam and Dick, Fred (2024) Generalization of auditory expertise in audio engineers and instrumental musicians. Cognition 244 (105696), ISSN 0010-0277.
- Symons, Ashley and Tierney, Adam (2024) Musical experience is linked to enhanced dimension-selective attention to pitch and increased primary weighting during suprasegmental categorization. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition 50 (2), pp. 189-203. ISSN 0278-7393.
- Guerra, Giada and Tijms, J. and Tierney, Adam and Vaessen, A. and Dick, Fred and Bonte, M. (2024) Auditory attention influences trajectories of symbol-speech sound learning in children with and without dyslexia. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology 237, ISSN 0022-0965.
- Saito, Kazuya and Kachlicka, Magdalena and Suzukida, Y. and Mora-Plaza, I. and Ruan, Y. and Tierney, Adam (2024) Auditory processing as perceptual, cognitive, and motoric abilities underlying successful second language acquisition: interaction model.. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance 50 (1), pp. 119-138. ISSN 0096-1523.
- Petrova, Katya and Jasmin, Kyle and Saito, Kazuya and Tierney, Adam (2023) Extensive residence in a second language environment modifies perceptual strategies for suprasegmental categorization. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition 49 (12), pp. 1943-1955. ISSN 0278-7393.
- Symons, Ashley and Tierney, Adam (2023) Informational masking influences segmental and suprasegmental speech categorization. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review ISSN 1069-9384.
- Symons, Ashley and Dick, Fred and Tierney, Adam (2023) Salient sounds distort time perception and production. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review ISSN 1069-9384.
- Guerra, Giada and Tierney, Adam and Tijm, J. and Vaessen, A. and Bonte, M. and Dick, Fred (2023) Attentional modulation of neural sound tracking in children with and without dyslexia. Developmental Science ISSN 1363-755x.
- Symons, Ashley and Tierney, Adam (2023) Musical experience is linked to enhanced dimension-selective attention to pitch and increased primary weighting during suprasegmental categorization. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition ISSN 0278-7393.
- Shao, Y. and Saito, Kazuya and Tierney, Adam (2023) How does having a good ear promote instructed second language pronunciation development? Roles of domain-general auditory processing in choral repetition training. TESOL Quarterly 57 (1), pp. 33-63. ISSN 0039-8322.
- Jasmin, Kyle and Tierney, Adam and Obasih, C. and Holt, L. (2023) Short-term perceptual reweighting in suprasegmental categorization. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review 30, pp. 373-382. ISSN 1069-9384.
- Saito, Kazuya and Kachlicka, Magdalena and Suzukida, Yui and Petrova, Katya and Lee, B. and Tierney, Adam (2022) Auditory precision hypothesis-L2: dimension-specific relationships between auditory processing and second language learning. Cognition 229, ISSN 0010-0277.
- Zheng, C. and Saito, Kazuya and Tierney, Adam (2022) Successful second language pronunciation learning is linked to domain-general auditory processing rather than music aptitude. Second Language Research 38 (3), pp. 477-497. ISSN 0267-6583.
- Kachlicka, Magdalena and Laffere, Aeron and Dick, Fred and Tierney, Adam (2022) Slow phase-locked modulations support selective attention to sound. NeuroImage 252 (119024), ISSN 1053-8119.
- Saito, Kazuya and Sun, H. and Kachlicka, M. and Alayo, J. and Nakata, T. and Tierney, Adam (2022) Domain-general auditory processing explains multiple dimensions of L2 acquisition in adulthood. Studies in Second Language Acquisition 44 (1), pp. 57-86. ISSN 0272-2631.
- Krizman, J. and Tierney, Adam and Nicol, T. and Kraus, N. (2021) Listening in the moment: how bilingualism interacts with task demands to shape active listening. Frontiers in Neuroscience ISSN 1662-453X.
- Symons, Ashley and Dick, Fred and Tierney, Adam (2021) Dimension-selective attention and dimensional salience modulate cortical tracking of acoustic dimensions. NeuroImage 244 (118544), ISSN 1053-8119.
- Tierney, Adam and Patel, A. and Jasmin, Kyle and Breen, M. (2021) Individual differences in perception of the speech-to-song illusion are linked to musical aptitude but not musical training. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance 47 (12), pp. 1681-1697. ISSN 0096-1523.
- Jasmin, Kyle and Dick, Fred and Tierney, Adam (2021) The Multidimensional Battery of Prosody Perception (MBOPP). Wellcome Open Research 5 (4), ISSN 2398-502X.
- Tierney, Adam and Cardona Gomez, J. and Fedele, O. and Kirkham, Natasha Z. (2021) Reading ability in children relates to rhythm perception across modalities. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology 210 (105196), ISSN 0022-0965.
- Saito, Kazuya and Train, M. and Suzukida, Yui and Tierney, Adam (2021) Domain-general auditory processing partially explains second language speech learning in classroom settings: a review and generalization study. Language Learning 71 (3), pp. 669-715. ISSN 0023-8333.
- Sun, Hui and Saito, Kazuya and Tierney, Adam (2021) A longitudinal investigation of explicit and implicit auditory processing in L2 Segmental and Suprasegmental Acquisition. Studies in Second Language Acquisition 43 (3), pp. 551-573. ISSN 0272-2631.
- Laffere, Aeron and Dick, Frederic and Holt, L. and Tierney, Adam (2021) Attentional modulation of neural entrainment to sound streams in children with and without ADHD. NeuroImage 224, pp. 117396. ISSN 1053-8119.
- Jasmin, Kyle and Sun, Hui and Tierney, Adam (2021) Effects of language experience on domain-general perceptual strategies. Cognition 206 (104481), ISSN 0010-0277.
- Saito, Kazuya and Kachlicka, M. and Sun, Hui and Tierney, Adam (2020) Domain-general auditory processing as an anchor of post-pubertal L2 pronunciation learning: behavioural and neurophysiological investigations of perceptual acuity, age, experience, development, and attainment.. Journal of Memory and Language 115 (104168), ISSN 0749-596X.
- Guerra, Giada and Tijms, J. and Vaessen, A. and Tierney, Adam and Dick, Fred and Bonte, M. (2020) Loudness and intelligibility of irrelevant background speech differentially hinder children's short story reading. Mind, Brain, and Education ISSN 1751-228X.
- Saito, Kazuya and Sun, Hui and Tierney, Adam (2020) Domain-general auditory processing determines success in second language pronunciation learning in adulthood: a longitudinal study. Applied Psycholinguistics 41 (5), pp. 1083-1112. ISSN 0142-7164.
- Jasmin, Kyle and Dick, Frederic and Stewart, Lauren and Tierney, Adam (2020) Altered functional connectivity during speech perception in Congenital Amusia. eLife ISSN 2050-084X.
- Laffere, A. and Dick, Frederic and Tierney, Adam (2020) Effects of auditory selective attention on neural phase: individual differences and short-term training. NeuroImage 213 (116717), ISSN 1053-8119.
- Tierney, Adam and Rosen, S. and Dick, Frederic (2020) Speech-in-speech perception, non-verbal selective attention, and musical training. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition 46 (5), pp. 968-979. ISSN 0278-7393.
- Jasmin, Kyle and Dick, Frederic and Holt, Lori and Tierney, Adam (2020) Tailored perception: individuals’ speech and music perception strategies fit their perceptual abilities. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 149 (5), pp. 914-934. ISSN 0096-3445.
- Saito, Kazuya and Sun, Hui and Tierney, Adam (2019) Explicit and implicit aptitude effects on second language speech learning: scrutinizing segmental and suprasegmental sensitivity and performance via behavioural and neurophysiological measures. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition 22 (5), pp. 1123-1140. ISSN 1366-7289.
- Kachlicka, M. and Saito, Kazuya and Tierney, Adam (2019) Successful second language learning is tied to robust domain-general auditory processing and stable neural representation of sound. Brain and Language 192, pp. 15-24. ISSN 0093-934X.
- Tierney, Adam (2018) Redundancy in the speech signal helps amusics perceive prosody. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 144 (3), pp. 1761. ISSN 0001-4966.
- Holt, L.L. and Tierney, Adam and Guerra, G. and Laffere, A. and Dick, Frederic (2018) Dimension-selective attention as a possible driver of dynamic, context-dependent re-weighting in speech processing. Hearing Research 366, pp. 50-64. ISSN 0378-5955.
- Slater, J. and Ashley, R. and Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2018) Got rhythm? Better inhibitory control is linked with more consistent drumming and enhanced neural tracking of the musical beat in adult percussionists and nonpercussionists. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 30 (1), pp. 14-24. ISSN 0898-929X.
- Tierney, Adam and Aniruddh, P. and Breen, M. (2018) Acoustic foundations of the speech-to-song illusion. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 147 (6), pp. 888-904. ISSN 0096-3445.
- Tierney, Adam and Patel, A. and Breen, M. (2018) Repetition enhances the musicality of speech and tone stimuli to similar degrees. Music Perception 35 (5), pp. 573-578. ISSN 0730-7829.
- Slater, J. and Kraus, N. and Woodruff Carr, K. and Tierney, Adam and Azem, A. and Ashley, R. (2017) Speech-in-noise perception is linked to rhythm production skills in adult percussionists and non-musicians. Language, Cognition and Neuroscience 33 (6), pp. 710-717. ISSN 2327-3798.
- Omote, Akihiro and Jasmin, Kyle and Tierney, Adam (2017) Successful non-native speech perception is linked to frequency following response phase consistency. Cortex 93, pp. 146-154. ISSN 0010-9452.
- Tierney, Adam and White-Schwoch, T. and MacLean, J. and Kraus, N. (2017) Individual differences in rhythmic skills: links with neural consistency and linguistic ability. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 29 (5), pp. 855-868. ISSN 0898-929X.
- Savage, P. and Tierney, Adam and Patel, A. (2017) Global music recordings support the motor constraint hypothesis for human and avian song contour. Music Perception 34 (3), pp. 327-334. ISSN 0730-7829.
- Woodruff Carr, K. and Fitzroy, A. and Tierney, Adam and White-Schwoch, T. and Kraus, N. (2017) Incorporation of feedback during beat synchronization is an index of neural maturation and reading skills. Brain and Language 164, pp. 43-52. ISSN 0093-934X.
- Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2016) Getting back on the beat: links between auditory-motor integration and precise auditory processing at fast time scales. European Journal of Neuroscience 43 (6), pp. 782-791. ISSN 0953-816X.
- Woodruff Carr, K. and Tierney, Adam and White-Schwoch, T. and Kraus, N. (2016) Intertrial auditory neural stability supports beat synchronization in preschoolers. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience 17, pp. 76-82. ISSN 1878-9293.
- Thompson, E. and Woodruff Carr, K. and White-Schwoch, T. and Tierney, Adam and Nicol, T. and Kraus, N. (2016) Hemispheric asymmetry of endogenous neural oscillations in young children: implications for hearing speech in noise. Scientific Reports 6, pp. 19737. ISSN 2045-2322.
- Krizman, J. and Tierney, Adam and Fitzroy, A.B. and Skoe, E. and Amar, J. and Kraus, N. (2015) Continued maturation of auditory brainstem function during adolescence: a longitudinal approach. Clinical Neurophysiology 126 (12), pp. 2348-2355. ISSN 1388-2457.
- Fitzroy, A. and Krizman, J. and Tierney, Adam and Agouridou, M. and Kraus, N. (2015) Longitudinal maturation of auditory cortical function during adolescence. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience ISSN 1662-5161.
- Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2015) Evidence for multiple rhythmic skills. PLoS One ISSN 1932-6203.
- Tierney, Adam and Krizman, J. and Kraus, N. (2015) Music training alters the course of adolescent auditory development. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 112 (32), pp. 10062-10067. ISSN 0027-8424.
- Thompson, E.C. and White-Schwoch, T. and Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2015) Beat synchronization across the lifespan: intersection of development and musical experience. PLoS One 10 (6), pp. e0128839. ISSN 1932-6203.
- Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2015) Neural entrainment to the rhythmic structure of music. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 27 (2), pp. 400-408. ISSN 0898-929X.
- Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2014) Auditory-motor entrainment and phonological skills: precise auditory timing hypothesis (PATH). Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 8 (949), ISSN 1662-5161.
- Woodruff Carr, K. and White-Schwoch, T. and Tierney, Adam and Strait, D.L. and Kraus, N. (2014) Beat synchronization predicts neural speech encoding and reading readiness in preschoolers. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 111 (40), pp. 14559-14564. ISSN 0027-8424.
- Tierney, Adam and Dick, Frederic and Deutsch, D. and Sereno, Martin I. (2013) Speech versus song: multiple pitch-sensitive areas revealed by a naturally occurring musical illusion. Cerebral Cortex 23 (2), pp. 249-254. ISSN 1047-3211.
- Tierney, Adam and Strait, D.L. and Kraus, N. (2013) Resting gamma power is linked to reading ability in adolescents. Developmental Science 17 (1), pp. 86-93. ISSN 1363-755x.
- Slater, J. and Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2013) At-risk elementary school children with one year of classroom music instruction are better at keeping a beat. PLoS One 9 (1), ISSN 1932-6203.
- Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2013) Neural responses to sounds presented on and off the beat of ecologically valid music. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience 7 (14), ISSN 1662-5137.
- Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2013) The ability to move to a beat is linked to the consistency of neural responses to sound. Journal of Neuroscience 33 (38), pp. 14981-14988. ISSN 0270-6474.
- Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2013) The ability to tap to a beat relates to cognitive, linguistic, and perceptual skills. Brain and Language 124 (3), pp. 225-231. ISSN 0093-934X.
- Tierney, Adam and Krizman, J. and Skoe, E. and Johnston, K. and Kraus, N. (2013) High school music classes enhance the neural processing of speech. Frontiers In Educational Psychology 4 (855), ISSN 1664-1078.
- Tierney, Adam and Strait, D.L. and O'Connell, S. and Kraus, N. (2013) Developmental changes in resting gamma power from age three to adulthood. Clinical Neurophysiology 124 (5), pp. 1040-1042. ISSN 1388-2457.
- Parbery-Clark, A. and Tierney, Adam and Strait, D. and Kraus, N. (2012) Musicians have fine-tuned neural distinction of speech syllables. Neuroscience 219 (6), pp. 111-119. ISSN 0306-4522.
- Tierney, Adam and Parbery-Clark, A. and Skoe, E. and Kraus, N. (2011) Frequency-dependent effects of background noise on subcortical response timing. Hearing Research 282 (1-2), pp. 145-150. ISSN 0378-5955.
- Tierney, Adam and Russo, F. and Patel, A. (2011) The motor origins of human and avian song structure. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 108 (4), pp. 15510-15515. ISSN 0027-8424.
- Tierney, Adam and Bergeson, T. and Pisoni, D. (2008) Effects of early musical experience on auditory sequence memory. Empirical Musicology Review 3 (4), pp. 178-186. ISSN 1559-5749.
- Clopper, C. and Pisoni, D. and Tierney, Adam (2006) Effects of open-set and closed-set demands on spoken word recognition. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology 17, pp. 331-349. ISSN 1050-0545.
Book Section
- Tierney, Adam and Kraus, N. (2013) Music training for the development of reading skills. In: Merzenich, M. and Nahum, M. and van Vleet, T. (eds.) Changing Brains Applying Brain Plasticity to Advance and Recover Human Ability. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. ISBN 9780444633279.

Dr Adam Tierney

Overview

Qualifications

ORCID

Research

Research interests

Research overview

Research Centres and Institutes

Research projects

Individual differences in dimensional weighting in speech perception.

Lab information

Post doctoral staff

Supervision and teaching

Supervision

Current doctoral researchers

EGOR LEVCHENKO

Doctoral alumni since 2013-14

MAGDALENA KACHLICKA

Teaching

Teaching modules

Publications

Article

Book Section