Neuroplasticity in Auditory Aging

摘要：总体 美国老年人的听力损失超过50%，这表明与年龄有关的 听力损失（ARHL）是最常见的慢性健康状况之一， 老年人未经治疗的听力损失与抑郁症，社会孤立和认知有关。 下降虽然助听器仍然是改善这些人沟通的主要设备， 使用ARHL时，卷取率相对较低，约为25%。理解言语 降级的收听情况（例如，噪声、混响、快速语音）仍然是主要的 这对老年人来说是一个挑战，即使是听力正常的人。根本问题 源于听觉周边的限制，中央听觉通路，认知 能力，以及支持听觉处理的神经认知网络的改变。 信号在噪声和其他形式的刺激退化。虽然广泛理解 老年人所经历的问题正在显现，通过以下措施来缓解问题的努力 系统调查很少。因此，该计划的超额目标 格兰特计划旨在建立一个听觉老化神经可塑性的综合模型， 将确定有益的干预策略，以减轻听觉认知的影响， 随着年龄的增长而下降，并将确定与听觉通路相关的关键变化位点。 最积极的结果。重点是适应性行为训练，以1）提高 听觉注意力网络，以改善对相关信息的选择性注意， 抑制无关信息; 2）重新建立兴奋性和兴奋性之间的适当平衡 和抑制放电模式，以增强听觉处理和认知;和3）改善 神经计时以提高声刺激的编码精度以改善声学场景 分析和语音识别。这些积极的神经可塑性的目标指数将是 通过使用行为、电生理学和成像的系统方法进行监测， 人类和动物。该计划包括3个项目（P1：（在噪音，杂乱， 混响环境-老化的主要影响和补救方法; P2： 听觉时间处理; P3：具有高认知需求的言语感知训练） 和3个核心（核心A：管理;核心B：信号处理和数据分析;核心C： 人类主体研究核心），并涉及9个高度协作的听觉和认知 致力于解决语言交流问题的神经科学家 随着年龄的增长。如果成功，该程序有可能恢复成功的通信 并改善数百万美国老年人的生活质量。

ABSTRACT: OVERALL Significant hearing loss among older Americans exceeds 50%, suggesting that age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is one of the most common chronic health conditions experienced by older people. Untreated hearing loss is linked to depression, social isolation, and cognitive decline. While hearing aids remain the primary device for improving communication for those with ARHL, the take-up rate is relatively low at about 25%. Understanding speech in degraded listening situations (e.g., noise, reverberation, fast speech) continues to be a major challenge for older people, even among those with normal hearing. The underlying problem stems from limitations in the auditory periphery, the central auditory pathways, cognitive abilities, and alterations in the auditory-cognitive networks that support processing of auditory signals in noise and other forms of stimulus degradation. While a broad understanding of the problems experienced by older people is crystallizing, efforts to alleviate the problem through systematic investigation have been sparse. Thus, the over-arching goal of this Program Project Grant is to develop an integrative model of neuroplasticity in auditory aging, which will identify beneficial intervention strategies for mitigating the impact of auditory -cognitive decline with aging and will identify key loci of change in the auditory pathways that correlate with the most positive outcomes. The focus is on adaptive behavioral training to 1) enhance the auditory attention network to improve selective attention to relevant information and to suppress irrelevant information; 2) re-establish the appropriate balance between excitatory and inhibitory firing patterns to enhance auditory processing and cognition; and 3) improve neural timing to enhance precision of coding of acoustic stimuli to improve acoustic scene analysis and speech recognition. These targeted indices of positive neural plasticity will be monitored through a systems approach using behavior, electrophysiology, and imaging with humans and animals. The program includes 3 projects (P1: (Listening in noise, clutter, and reverberant environments – central effects of aging and approaches to remediation; P2: Auditory temporal processing; P3: Speech Perception Training with High Cognitive Demand) and 3 cores (Core A: Administrative; Core B: Signal Processing and Data Analysis; Core C: Human Subjects Research Core), and involves 9 highly collaborative auditory and cognitive neuroscientists with a dedicated interest in solving the problems of speech communication with aging. If successful, the program has the potential to restore successful communication and improve quality of life for millions of older Americans.