Current H4a & HWK Fellow
As part of the Hearing4all Fellowship in cooperation with Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg – Institute for Advanced Study (HWK), Dr. Velu Prabhakar Kumaravel is currently conducting research at the University of Oldenburg. Here, Kumaravel is working on his project “Mobile EEG-based Feedback System for Auditory Perceptual Learning” in the Neuropsychology Lab headed by Prof. Stefan Debener, Principal Investigator in the Hearing4all Cluster of Excellence.
Dr. Velu Prabhakar Kumaravel, we are pleased that you are contributing your expertise to the cluster and would like to learn more about you and your research work.
How did you get into hearing research?
My academic journey began in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering with a specialization in signals and systems. While this gave me a strong technical base, I was always drawn to deeper questions about the human mind – like why some people are more anxious than others – and, as an engineer, how I could use technology to improve people’s quality of life. This personal interest gradually drew me toward biomedical signal processing and, ultimately, to neurocognitive science.
During my PhD under the supervision of Dr. Elisabetta Farella (Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Trento, Italy), I had the opportunity to collaborate with neurocognitive scientist Dr. Marco Buiatti (University of Trento, Italy) to work on Electroencephalogram (EEG) data collected from newborns just 1-4 days old. I developed an analysis method, which gave me insight into early visual cognition, particularly face processing. After my PhD, I wanted to explore other sensory modalities such as auditory and tactile. I had long followed the work of Prof. Dr. Stefan Debener and Dr. Martin Bleichner in Oldenburg, particularly their advances in mobile EEG – using cEEGrids (flexible electrode arrays worn around the ears) – which make it possible to conduct studies in real-world environments. Their interdisciplinary approach strongly resonated with my background. After a few online and in-person meetings, we decided to collaborate, and I formally joined the Hearing4all cluster.
What is your research focus and what research questions are you currently working on?
My core research goal is to develop the building blocks of a reliable EEG-based neurofeedback system that can train individuals to improve their listening abilities in noisy environments. For such a system to be truly effective, it needs to be subjective (adapting to the listener) and responsive, providing (near-) real-time feedback with minimal latency.
Currently, I am investigating how conventional EEG-based markers of auditory attention change when target and distractor speech sources are spatially separated at different locations. Understanding this interaction allows us to tune the system’s feedback to varying levels of task difficulty, which is key for learning and adaptation.
Where and how do you conduct your research?
My research is conducted at the Neuropsychology Lab in Oldenburg, using stationary EEG systems in combination with specialised acoustic equipment and a dedicated soundproof booth. For the simulation environment, I use the toolbox TASCAR (developed by Dr. Giso Grimm from the Department of Medical Physics and Acoustics). All signal processing and algorithm development are handled using MATLAB and Python-based frameworks, which ensure that the pipeline is scalable to both lab-based and mobile EEG systems.
What fascinates you about this area of research and what are the long-term goals of your research?
What fascinates me about hearing research is its practical relevance. Hearing is ubiquitous. While visual distractions can be shut out by simply closing our eyes, we cannot ‘turn off’ our ears. In everyday environments such as crowded cafés, open offices, busy streets, our ability to focus depends heavily on the brain’s capacity to suppress irrelevant sounds.
My long-term vision is to support this cognitive function (target enhancement and/or distractor suppression) through neurofeedback systems that help people actively train their attention in challenging environments. This could be particularly beneficial for individuals who struggle with speech perception in noise.
What motivated you to apply for the H4a & HWK Fellowship?
Among the funding opportunities available, the joint Hearing4all & HWK Fellowship stood out for the following reasons: First, Hearing4all is a rich, multidisciplinary network of experts – from audiologists to neurobiologists. This gives me access to invaluable perspectives and resources. Further, we could exchange ideas and toolboxes that we already have in place. For instance, as I mentioned earlier, I use the TASCAR toolbox developed by Dr. Giso Grimm (Department of Medical Physics and Acoustics) – something that would not have been possible without this collaborative environment. Second, the HWK residence fellowship offers a unique opportunity to pursue research while maintaining a fulfilling personal life. As I am currently at the HWK, I can say living with my wife and daughter in a supportive academic community is an enriching experience. I regularly attend the HWK Fellow lecture series, benefit from dedicated office space, and appreciate how closely research and home life are integrated. Together, Hearing4all and HWK allow me to build a meaningful research career without compromising family life – something that I deeply value.
How do you find living and working in Delmenhorst and Oldenburg, Germany, compared to your previous experiences in India and Italy?
Well, it is certainly different, as one would expect, but in many positive ways. Reflecting on my journey, I notice a steady shift from high-density, fast-paced urban cities to quieter, more pleasant towns. In Chennai, India, where I studied and worked as a software engineer, life was dynamic and hectic. Then came Bologna, Italy for my master’s and Trento, Italy for my PhD – both smaller, more academic cities. Now, Oldenburg and Delmenhorst feel like a perfect balance: Calm, accessible, and well-suited for focused research and family life.
Culturally, I have found ways to stay connected. My wife is a wonderful cook, so I rarely miss Indian food. And for a taste of Italy, I occasionally cook myself and we regularly visit some good Italian restaurants in Oldenburg and Bremen. After over a year in northern Germany, the weather feels manageable. Overall, I’ve come to appreciate the thoughtful pace and quality of life here.
What are your plans for the future?
I aim to continue in academia, ideally in Germany. I am in the early stages of shaping ideas for a DFG grant application. My research interests are evolving toward understanding how non-brain signals (e.g., respiratory patterns) interact with sensory, affective, and cognitive processes. I am particularly drawn to investigating these physiological-neural interactions in the context of mental health. For instance, I am interested in exploring respiratory-brain coupling in anxiety disorders, or examining how disrupted physiological rhythms relate to conditions like insomnia and depression. While I’m still refining the specific research direction, my guiding motivation remains the same: to use technology to deepen our understanding of the human mind and improve people’s quality of life.
Photo: © Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg
