Nicole Etter, Ph.D.

Dr. Nicole Etter directs the Orofacial Physiology and Perceptual Analysis Lab (OPPAL) in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department at Penn State. Her main goal is to assess sensation and motor control for speech production. She is interested in learning how our ability to control the muscles of the face to produce clear speech may change as we get older. She compares how hearing and touch sensation of the lips and tongue are important for maintaining the fine motor control we use to speak. She is also interested in learning what happens after injury or disorders like stroke or Parkinson’s disease.