Johns Hopkins Research Illuminates How the Brain Processes Hearing
The findings may help scientists pinpoint the time period when certain brain connections and specialization form, and provide insight into how to restore hearing loss.
Tag: research
All
Latest
All
Latest
Genes for Speech Not Limited to Humans
According to a study published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, our current understanding that mice have either no, or very limited, neural circuitry and genes like those that regulate human speech is incorrect. The protein that regulates speech production in humans, also affects vocalization patterns in mice and other mammals.
All
Latest
Brain Map Shows Landscape of Sensory Perception
A new brain map from researchers at WUSTL lays out the landscape of the cerebral cortex – the dominant brain structure involved in sensory perception, including auditory and visual organization, as well as attention, language, tool use, and abstract thinking.
Issues in Cognitive Screenings by Audiologists
The discovery and management of cognitive issues, which may masquerade as or occur in tandem with hearing problems, allows the hearing healthcare professional to better address the global needs of the patient in a timely manner. In this article, Douglas Beck, Barbara Weinstein, and Michael Harvey advocate for the universal cognitive screening of patients aged 70 and older with hearing loss, even in the absence of obvious signs or symptoms of cognitive impairment.
Read More
Multi-channel Compression: Concepts and (Early but Timeless) Results
The authors look back at a study from 2000 that showed short time constants and a large number of independent compression channels reduced the temporal and spectral contrast of speech when using technology of that period. Additionally, in subjective paired comparisons, long time constants, low compression ratios, and a small number of compression channels were preferred in the investigated technology configuration by normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners.
Read More
Annual Audiological Evaluations Should Be Mandatory for Patients with Diabetes
Early diagnosis and intervention of hearing loss or listening related problems could help in providing better quality of life for individuals with diabetes mellitus. Annual audiological evaluations—which include testing of the peripheral as well as central auditory system—should be added to the list of routine or “standard of care” medical exams.
Read More
Our Perceptions Are Flawed, Says UCLA Study
According to a study from UCLA, our vision and hearing aren’t as reliable as we think. While many people view their sensory perceptions as flawless, thinking that to see is to believe, this is not necessarily so.
Read More
NIDCD Speaker Series: December Talk on How Research Is Preventing Hearing Loss
The public is invited to a Thursday, December 10, 2015 talk titled “How NIDCD research is preventing or reversing hearing loss,” as part of the NIDCD Speaker Series. It is scheduled for 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Building 35A, Room 640, on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Md. It will be given by Lisa Cunningham, PhD, chief, NIDCD Section on Sensory Cell Biology.
Read More
Damage-sensing Nerve Cells in Inner Ear Send Messages to Brain
According to new research from Johns Hopkins, some nerve cells in the inner ear can signal the brain about tissue damage in a way similar to pain-sensing nerve cells in the body. If the finding, discovered in rats, is confirmed in humans, it may lead to new insights into hyperacusis, an increased sensitivity to loud noises that can lead to severe ear pain.
Read More
Computer Program Predicts Success of Cochlear Implants in Children before Surgery
A new computer program that analyzes functional brain MRIs in hard of hearing children can predict whether they will develop effective language skills within two years after cochlear implant surgery. This could reduce the number of children who undergo the invasive procedure, only to be disappointed when cochlear implants do not deliver hoped-for results.
Read More
NFLPA, EarQ Investigate Hearing Loss Among Football Players
EarQ announced that following significant player participation at the 2015 NFL Players Association’s (NFLPA) Conference in March, and the Chicago regional meeting in August, EarQ and the Professional Athletes Foundation (PAF) brought their hearing health research program to the New Orleans chapter of the NFLPA.
Read More
Study of Ancient Auditory Muscles Yields Clues to Hearing Deficits
A University of Missouri (MU) psychologist conducted a study review of human vestigial muscles behind the ears and determined that ancient neural circuits responsible for moving the ears may be responsive to sounds. Neuroscientists studying auditory function could use these nonfunctioning muscles to study infant hearing deficits.
Read More
An Audiological Journey in a Smaller World
Looking back on a eventful trip in 1960, Dr Jerger recounts the many friendships made during a trip overseas, and how those friendships influenced his career. The professional camaraderie he shared with international colleagues and insights he gained from them illustrate the advantages of growing up professionally in a smaller world.
Read More
JAMA Study Indicates Association between Hearing Impairment and Mortality
A September 24, 2015 article published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, proposes that, based on analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), hearing impairment has been associated with various negative health issues, and possibly earlier death for older adults.
Read More
Findings on Brain Plasticity after Vision Loss Offer Insight on Hearing Loss
Biologists at KU Leuven in Belgium have discovered a molecular “on-off switch” that controls how a mouse brain responds to vision loss, and their findings help inform our understanding of how the brain responds to hearing loss and hearing implants.
Read More
Better Targets Identified for Vaccine against Middle Ear Infections
Researchers have found that the bacterial pathogen Haemophilus influenzae, which causes otitis media, randomly changes gene expression, causing the bacteria to switch between two different cell types–this “moving target” is what has made vaccine development difficult in the past.
Read More
Research Suggests New Avenues for Music Training in Aural Rehabilitation
With the wealth of exciting research findings in the areas of neuroplasticity and music training, it increasingly appears likely that concepts related to music training can be applied to aural rehabilitation for numerous clinical populations.
Read More
International Project Explores Potential Harm of Inaudible Sounds
European experts examine the potential impact of inaudible sounds from wind farms and modern technology on health and hearing. They have extended their study of infrasound and ultrasound to include an examination of the psychological effects of inaudible sounds.
Read More