 |
|
Brain center for 'sound space' identified
September 20, 2007While the visual regions of the brain have been intensively mapped, many important regions for auditory processing remain terra incognita. Now, researchers have identified the region responsible for a key auditory process-perceiving "sound space," the location of sounds. The findings settle a controversy in earlier studies that failed to establish the auditory region, called the planum temporale, as responsible for perceiving auditory space.
Leon Y. Deouell and colleagues published their findings in the September 20, 2007 issue of the journal Neuron, published by Cell Press.
Studies by other researchers had shown that the planum temporale was activated when people were asked to perform tasks in which they located sounds in space. However, many researchers believed that the region was responsible only for intentional processing of such information. And in fact, previous studies had failed to establish that the planum temporale was responsible for automatic, nonintentional representation of spatial location.
However, Deouell and colleagues used an improved experimental design that enabled them to more sensitively determine the brain's auditory spatial location center. For example, they presented their human subjects with sounds against a background of silence, used headphones that more accurately reproduced sound location, used noise with a rich spectrum which has been shown to be more readily locatable in space, and created an individually tailored sound space for each subject by using sounds previously recorded directly from the subjects' own ears.
In their experiments, they presented bursts of the noise to the volunteers wearing the headphones while the subjects' brains were scanned by functional magnetic resonance imaging. In this widely used brain-scanning technique, harmless magnetic fields and radio waves are used to image blood flow in brain regions, which reflects brain activity in those locations.
The subjects were instructed to ignore the sounds. And, to divert their attention, they either watched a movie with the sound turned off or were given a simple button-pushing task.
When the position of the noise bursts was varied in space, the researchers found that the planum temporale in the subjects' brain was, indeed, activated. What's more, the greater the number of distinct sound locations subjects heard during test runs, the greater the activity in the planum temporale.
The researchers concluded that their experiments "suggest that neurons in this region represent, in a nonintentional or preattentive fashion, the location of sound sources in the environment." They wrote that "Space representation in this region may provide the neural substrate needed for an orientation response to critical auditory events and for linking auditory information with information acquired through other modalities."
Cell Press
However, Deouell and colleagues used an improved experimental design that enabled them to more sensitively determine the brain's auditory spatial location center. For example, they presented their human subjects with sounds against a background of silence, used headphones that more accurately reproduced sound location, used noise with a rich spectrum which has been shown to be more readily locatable in space, and created an individually tailored sound space for each subject by using sounds previously recorded directly from the subjects' own ears.
In their experiments, they presented bursts of the noise to the volunteers wearing the headphones while the subjects' brains were scanned by functional magnetic resonance imaging. In this widely used brain-scanning technique, harmless magnetic fields and radio waves are used to image blood flow in brain regions, which reflects brain activity in those locations.
The subjects were instructed to ignore the sounds. And, to divert their attention, they either watched a movie with the sound turned off or were given a simple button-pushing task.
When the position of the noise bursts was varied in space, the researchers found that the planum temporale in the subjects' brain was, indeed, activated. What's more, the greater the number of distinct sound locations subjects heard during test runs, the greater the activity in the planum temporale.
The researchers concluded that their experiments "suggest that neurons in this region represent, in a nonintentional or preattentive fashion, the location of sound sources in the environment." They wrote that "Space representation in this region may provide the neural substrate needed for an orientation response to critical auditory events and for linking auditory information with information acquired through other modalities."
Cell Press
Auditory Processing Current Events and Auditory Processing News RSSMemory impairment associated with sound processing disorder
Mild memory impairment may be associated with central auditory processing dysfunction, or difficulty hearing in complex situations with competing noise, such as hearing a single conversation amid several other conversations, according to a report in the July issue of Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Rutgers Research: Impairments in Language Development
Uncover how the brains of infants distinguish differences in sounds and it may become possible to correct language problems even before children start to speak, sparing them the difficulties that come from struggling with language.
Hearing changes how we perceive gender
Think about the confused feelings that occur when you meet someone whose tone of voice doesn't seem to quite fit with his or her gender.
Sensitivity of brain center for 'sound space' defined
While the visual regions of the brain have been intensively mapped, many important regions for auditory processing remain "uncharted territory." Now, researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and elsewhere have identified a region responsible for a key auditory process - perceiving "sound space," the location of sounds, even when the listener is not concentrating on those sounds.
Ability to listen to 2 things at once is largely inherited, says twin study
Your ability to listen to a phone message in one ear while a friend is talking into your other ear-and comprehend what both are saying-is an important communication skill that's heavily influenced by your genes.
Research finds music training 'tunes' human auditory system
A newly published study by Northwestern University researchers suggests that Mom was right when she insisted that you continue music lessons — even after it was clear that a professional music career was not in your future.
Personality predictors of intelligence change from younger to older adulthood
An ability to be open to new situations may predict intelligence earlier in life, says a new study, but disagreeableness may predict intelligence later in life.
Nicotine exposure during development leads to hearing problems
Scientists know that children of women who smoke during pregnancy can develop hearing-related cognitive deficits. For the first time, researchers believe they have evidence that not only implicates nicotine as the culprit, but also shows what the substance does to the brain to cause these deficits.
How the brain sorts babble into auditory streams
Known as "the cocktail party problem," the ability of the brain's auditory processing centers to sort a babble of different sounds, like cocktail party chatter, into identifiable individual voices has long been a mystery.
Failure to suppress irrelevant brain activity in Alzheimer disease
A study by Alexander Drzezga and colleagues (of the Technical University Munich, Germany) to be published in the international open access journal PLoS Medicine now shows that this focusing process is defective in people with Alzheimer disease (AD).
More Auditory Processing Current Events and Auditory Processing News Articles
 | Assessment & Management of Central Auditory Processing Disorders in the Educational Setting: From Science to Practice 2nd Edition(Singular Audiology Text) by Teri James Bellis Provides the reader with an interpretation of central auditory processing disorders that is both scientific and clinical. The information is presented in an easy to read and understand format. This book is ideal for practicing clinicians who are looking for a review of this complex subject. The text is clearly presented to aid the learning process, with learning objectives set out at the... |
 | When the Brain Can't Hear : Unraveling the Mystery of Auditory Processing Disorder by Teri James Bellis In this landmark book, Dr. Teri James Bellis, one of the world's leading authorities on auditory processing disorder (APD), explains the nature of this devastating condition and provides insightful case studies that illustrate its effect on the lives of its sufferers.Millions of Americans struggle silently with APD. For many of them, holding a simple conversation can be next to impossible. As... |
 | Like Sound Through Water : A Mother's Journey Through Auditory Processing Disorder by Karen J. Foli A mother knows when something is wrong with her child. If the problem is physical, she takes the child to a doctor. But if the problem is a misunderstanding of her child's mind, where does she turn for help? This is Ben's story.He was a happy, healthy boy -- a mother's dream come true. Yet by the age of three, Ben's development was significantly delayed: He couldn't make sense of the simplest... |
 | Handbook of (Central) Auditory Processing Disorders, Vol. 1: Auditory Neuroscience and Diagnosis by Frank E. Musiek and Gail D. Chermak The first volume of Musiek and Chermak's definitive Handbook of (C)APD provides comprehensive coverage of auditory neuroscience and clinical science needed to accurately diagnose the range of developmental and acquired (C)APD disorders in children, adults, and older adults. With contributions from world-renowned authors, the handbook reflects major advances in auditory neuroscience and... |
 | Auditory Processing Disorders: Assessment, Management and Treatment by Donna Geffner and Deborah Ross-Swain Auditory Processing Disorders: Management and Treatment details the history, definition, behaviors, and co-morbidity of auditory processing disorders before educating the reader on the most current practices for audiological and speech-language assessment of APD, including its impact on literacy and language processing. Practical rehabilitation and management strategies are covered in... |
| HELP: For auditory processing by Andrea M Lazzari | |
 | Central Auditory Processing Disorders: New Perspectives by Gail D. Chermak, Frank E. Musiek, Chie Higuchi Craig Washington State Univ., Pullman. Text linking the neurobiology of central auditory processing with language and cognitive systems. For professionals.... |
| It's Time to Listen : Metacognitive Activities for Improving Auditory Processing in the Classroom by Patricia McAleer Hamaguchi | |
 | An Introduction to Auditory Processing Disorders in Children by Teralandur K. Parthasarathy Auditory processing in children (APD) comprises an increasingly important clinical area within the broad field of communication disorders. This new textbook presents the major advances in the assessment and management of APD. The chapter authors, highly regarded clinicians and researchers from diverse professional groups, contribute an impressive breadth of knowledge to explain and demystify APD.... |
 | Central Auditory Processing Disorders: Mostly Management by M. Gay Masters, Nancy A. Stecker, Jack Katz Because there is no single approach to the management of Central Auditory Processing Disorders (CAPD), this new book offers the latest available information on a variety of compatible approaches. It is based on the 1996 conference of the same title that was hosted by the State University of New York at Buffalo (where the co-authors are based). Each chapter is by a different authoritative... |
| © 2008 BrightSurf.com |