Articles tagged with Auditory Perception
Researchers have discovered that mutations in the espin protein can impair hearing by causing floppy bundles of protein filaments in hair cells. This structure change prevents the transmission of nerve impulses to the brain, leading to deafness. The findings offer a potential 'rescue' mechanism for this form of deafness.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have discovered that Yellow Underwing moths change their ear sensitivity to bats' calls when being chased, and remain tuned for several minutes after. This phenomenon challenges current understanding of bat-moth co-evolution and has implications for other hearing systems in animals.
Researchers found that fans without ear protection in Edmonton Oilers games received a daily allowable noise dose of over 8,100%, posing a significant risk to their hearing. The study highlights the importance of wearing protective gear during loud events like hockey playoffs.
Research reveals that even short exposure to loud noise during Stanley Cup games can be harmful, with fans receiving up to 81% of their daily noise dose without ear protection. Earplugs can mitigate this risk and help prevent hearing loss and tinnitus.
A University of Leeds study reports a groundbreaking case of déjà vu in a blind individual, challenging traditional theories. The research suggests that déjà experiences are caused by disrupted familiarity areas in the brain, contradicting optical pathway delay theory.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University found that lower doses of radiation are equally effective in treating acoustic schwannomas, a benign but potentially devastating brain tumor. This treatment approach may preserve more hearing and reduce the need for surgery.
A new diagnostic device, BioMAP, can identify a third of children aged 8-12 with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities. Children identified through BioMAP receive auditory training that improves their academic learning skills.
A study of 1,911 adults found that visual impairment significantly increases the risk of hearing loss, with both conditions affecting physical and mental domains. The two impairments share common risk factors, including oxidative stress, smoking, and atherosclerosis.
A UK researcher has won a major science prize for his work on the region of the brain that helps us hear someone in a noisy place. The researcher, Sam Irving, is studying how the brain adapts to hearing loss and uses feedback systems to compensate.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have identified 17 families of mice with genetic mutations that cause hearing loss, similar to damage caused by chemotherapy and age-related hearing loss in adults. The mouse models will help scientists understand the genes responsible for this damage and potentially develop treatments.
A study of 124 women found that hormone-replacement therapy with progestin resulted in a 10-30% increase in hearing loss compared to estrogen-only or non-HRT groups. Women on progestin showed signs of damage in both the inner ear and brain used for hearing.
Researchers found that multi-sensory training programs significantly improve low-level perceptual tasks in adults. Engaging both vision and hearing can produce speedier learning and suggest modifications to adult perceptual systems.
A new study shows that cochlear implants lead to improved spoken language skills in deaf children when used earlier, with the best results seen in those under 24 months old. The research suggests that these devices can help children learn spoken language at a level comparable to hearing peers.
Researchers have identified protocadherin-15 as a likely player in the moment-of-truth reaction in which sound is converted into electrical signals. The findings may help understand why some people temporarily lose their hearing after being exposed to loud noise, only to regain it a day or two later.
A new study found that non-Hispanic blacks have the best hearing thresholds among three major ethnic groups in the US, with Mexican Americans falling in between. The median hearing levels of U.S. adults have not changed significantly since the early 1970s, despite increased noise sources.
Researchers developed a mathematical model of the cochlea that shows its spiral shape enhances low frequency sounds, increasing sensitivity by up to 20 decibels. This finding could lead to improved cochlear implants and better hearing outcomes.
A team at the University of Bristol has created microphones based on the structure of a locust's eardrum, allowing them to detect extremely faint sounds. By studying the nanoscale movements of an insect's hearing system, researchers have gained insights into developing tiny sensors that can analyze sound frequencies.
A Mayo Clinic study found that patients with rheumatoid arthritis have preserved hearing and are no more susceptible to hearing loss than those without the disease. However, rheumatoid arthritis patients were more likely to perceive they had hearing problems due to their disability level.
A new study from the University of Michigan Medical School found that a particular surgical procedure, the middle cranial fossa (MCF) approach, can preserve hearing in patients with small acoustic neuromas. The study examined 73 patients and reported a high rate of success, with three-quarters retaining useful hearing after tumor removal.
A Yale University study found that older individuals' age stereotypes can predict their sensory perception, with negative and external stereotypes linked to worse hearing outcomes. The study of 546 people aged 70 and older suggested that social psychological factors, such as age stereotypes, may influence hearing decline.
Researchers found a direct link between aldosterone levels and the ability to hear normally as people age. Lower blood levels of aldosterone are associated with severe hearing loss, suggesting that the hormone plays a role in maintaining good hearing.
Researchers found that age has little predictive value for postoperative performance with cochlear implants in elderly patients. Instead, residual hearing capacity and language abilities appear to be key determinants of success.
A Hopkins study found that cochlear implants can prevent and even reverse damage to the brain's auditory nerve system in cats. The research supports earlier implantation of devices in young children born deaf, as it minimizes complications and maximizes hearing restoration success.
A new study found that pediatricians frequently neglect to follow up on children who fail initial hearing screenings, leaving them without necessary treatment. This can lead to delayed diagnosis of hearing loss and potentially irreversible language delays in young children.
The study used repetitive triplet sequences of tones with alternating frequencies to explore how the brain perceives auditory streams. The researchers found that at intermediate frequency separations and speeds, listeners' perceptions shifted from a single stream to two separate streams.
Researchers at Emory University Health Sciences Center discovered the PCP pathway's role in shaping cochlea and hair cells. The study reveals that mutations in this pathway impact hearing and offers new insights into developing hearing restoration therapies.
A new study published in The Lancet found that newborn screening for childhood hearing impairment leads to increased referrals before 6 months of age, ultimately contributing to better language and speech development. Early intervention programs can also mitigate deficits in children with bilateral PCHI.
Researchers at Michigan Medicine have found that over half of patients with rapidly progressing hearing loss had antibodies against IESCA, a protein in the inner ear. The study suggests a direct test for antibodies could predict which patients will regain hearing with steroid treatment.
A new guide from the Better Hearing Institute provides parents with tools to recognize and address hearing loss in children, which can impact academic performance and development. The guide offers treatment options and resources for parents to overcome stigma associated with hearing aids.
Research suggests that trained meditative practices can alter perception and influence the conscious experience of visual perceptual rivalry. Monks practicing 'one-point' meditation showed major increases in durations of perceptual dominance, indicating improved ability to focus their minds.
Researchers have found TRPA1 to be present in stereocilia of hair cells, crucial for both sound detection and balance. This dual role suggests that TRPA1 may play a key role in pain sensation, particularly in response to noxious stimuli.
A nationwide collaboration of transplant specialists is reviewing kidney allocation guidelines, soliciting public input, and exploring changes to improve patient access and outcomes. The review process aims to balance justice, utility, and efficiency in the allocation system.
Researchers, led by Daniel Eberl, studied the Myosin VIIA gene in fruit flies to understand deafness. They found that this gene is essential for hearing in both fruit flies and humans. This discovery will help scientists design experiments to test specific mechanisms of hearing.
A study of 237 children who underwent ear tube placement surgery at ages 5-16 months found that their hearing levels remained comparable to age-matched normal ears. The number of abnormal outcomes decreased over time, and repeated surgeries were more common in those with more serious conditions.
A wearable captioning system developed at the Georgia Tech Research Institute allows users to customize captions in any venue that provides captioning. The system relies on mobile wireless technology and can transmit multiple text streams, making it potentially useful for language translation as well.
A study by University of Toronto researchers found that orchestra musicians are not at risk of hearing loss in the pit, despite playing for long hours. However, individual practice and measures such as earplugs can still help protect their hearing.
As we age, our brain's ability to filter out background noise and sort information affects our hearing. Researchers have found a 'feedback' problem in the brain that diminishes our ability to hear, particularly in older adults who experience age-related hearing loss.
Researchers analyzed Al-Sayyid Bedouin Sign Language (ABSL), a community of 3,500 deaf and hearing people, revealing a distinct grammatical structure that establishes systematic relations among words. ABSL follows a Subject-Object-Verb order, differing from English and other languages in the region.
Tributyltin oxide (TBT) affects the mechanical activity of outer hair cells, which boost incoming sound energy to inner hair cells. The study found rapid and profound effects of TBT on outer hair cell membrane chloride ion exchange.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center successfully implemented Universal Newborn Hearing Screening, reducing the number of false positives and increasing follow-up rates. Rescreening infants four hours after birth improved outcomes, while providing outpatient retesting encouraged parents to return for further evaluation.
A study found that exposure to anger, negative emotions, or sudden changes in body position can increase the risk of stroke by up to 14 times within two hours. The study examined 200 people with ischemic strokes and found a link between these triggers and stroke, potentially offering new avenues for prevention and intervention.
Researchers have discovered a long-sought protein called TRPA1 that converts sound into nerve impulses, transmitting to the brain. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for deafness and balance disorders in the next five to ten years.
A Université de Montréal study reveals that early- and late-onset blind subjects excel in spatial hearing tests, distinguishing sounds from ambient noise. This improvement may stem from increased time spent developing the sense of hearing and compensatory cortical adaptations.
Researchers found that newborn babies' right ears are more responsive to speech-type stimuli, while their left ears are more responsive to tonal sounds. This suggests that the auditory system develops differently on each side of the brain from birth.
Researchers studied fossil whales and found significant changes in their ear anatomy, which enabled them to transition from a land-based to a marine-based existence. The new sound transmission system allowed modern cetaceans to locate prey using echolocation, making it crucial for survival.
Researchers at University College London found that humans use a strategy similar to barn owls for sound pitches above middle-C, while gerbils adapt to detect low-pitched sounds. The study suggests the brain adopts an efficient strategy to locate sound sources, adapting to different frequencies.
Researchers at the University of Washington have discovered that a spike in hormone levels can induce changes in female fish's hearing sensitivity, allowing them to detect higher frequencies. This neural plasticity may affect all vertebrates and could have implications for human hearing loss.
Research found that altering steroid hormone levels enhances a complex auditory system in female midshipman fish. The discovery suggests that estrogen hormones may play a role in shifting the sensitivity of the auditory system to prioritize social stimuli.
Researchers found female patients with Wolfram syndrome have significantly worse hearing than male patients. The study also discovered that USH2a patients' hearing loss gradually deteriorates over time.
A researcher has identified a genetic abnormality affecting American DFNA9 syndrome patients also present in Dutch families, including BOR syndrome, leading to valuable insights into the progression of diseases. The discovery highlights the importance of gene matching research for identifying new candidate genes.
Jonathan I. Lunine, a renowned planetary scientist, will testify before the President's Commission on Implementation of U.S. Space Exploration Policy about detecting other Earths around nearby stars. He suggests developing medium-sized optical and infrared space telescopes, the Terrestrial Planet Finder, which could discover habitable ...
University at Buffalo researchers have created an innovative animal model to study tinnitus treatment, allowing them to monitor individual neurons in the brain during phantom sound perception. The model, developed with a $167,000 grant, enables researchers to measure changes in neural activity before and after inducing tinnitus.
Researchers have discovered the role of cadherin 23 protein in the mechanotransduction process that converts sound waves into electrical signals. The study provides insights into Usher syndrome and age-related hearing loss, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for treating deafness.
Researchers found that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can lead to poorer hearing performance in women, especially in noisy environments. The study involved 32 women who had received HRT and compared their hearing with 32 women who had not.
Researchers found that gradual exposure to frequency-shifted sounds improved subject's ability to comprehend speech in cochlear implants. Brain scans revealed systematic changes in cortical responses after several hours of exposure.
A massive gene-comparison project found evidence of positive selection in genes involved in the sense of smell, digestion, long-bone growth, hairiness, and hearing. The analysis also suggested that humans may have an advantage in understanding speech due to genetic differences in hearing genes.
A massive gene-comparison project found evidence of positive selection in genes involved in olfaction, smell perception, and hearing. This suggests that lifestyle changes, such as the shift from a plant-based diet to meat-eating, drove the evolution of unique human traits.
Researchers at Michigan State University have identified a gene mutation linked to hearing loss, which could lead to new insights into the biology of progressive hearing loss. The discovery is expected to provide new avenues for preventing or treating this common health issue, affecting an estimated 28 million Americans.
Researchers found that a mutated fruit fly gene controlling hearing produces similar consequences in humans, including hearing loss and limb deformities. The study suggests that hearing may have evolved earlier than previously thought, linking human genetics to those of fruit flies.
A three-year study found that low-dose methotrexate had no effect on maintaining restored hearing in patients with autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED). Researchers are now focusing on alternative treatments for this rare condition.