Perceptual and central auditory consequences of noise-induced hearing loss

描述（由申请人提供）：听力损失会损害语言感知和响度感知，对学习成绩、认知和社会功能产生负面影响。听力恶化的许多方面，例如在复杂的声学背景下听讲话，不能仅仅以外周损伤为基础来解释。这些任务的执行可能受到中枢听觉通路的神经重组或退化的影响。我们的研究计划的长期目标是研究获得性听力损失如何影响听觉系统的突触组织，这些突触变化如何与听力行为变化相关，以及突触异常是否可以恢复或预防。重要的是我们要调查不同形式的

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Hearing loss impairs speech perception and loudness perception, which can have negative effects on academic achievement, cognition, and social functioning. Many aspects of deteriorated hearing performance, such as listening to speech in a complex acoustic background, cannot be explained solely on the basis of peripheral damage. Performance on these tasks is likely affected by neural reorganization or deterioration in the central auditory pathway. The long-term goal of our research program is to investigate how acquired hearing loss affects synaptic organization of the auditory system, how these synaptic changes relate to behavioral changes in hearing, and whether or not the synaptic abnormalities can be recovered or prevented. It is important that we investigate the impact of different forms of hearing loss on the brain to understand variable perceptual deficits and unpredictable outcomes after hearing intervention. This grant will support functional and anatomical investigations in mice with noise-induced hearing damage. Mice will be exposed to moderate noise that has been historically characterized as safe and to moderately loud noise known to cause permanent hearing loss. We will measure behavioral changes in temporal processing and loudness perception and investigate the corresponding changes in structure and organization of neural inputs to specific cell types in the ventral cochlear nucleus. These studies will provide important information for understanding complex hearing deficits and may have implications for improving treatment of hearing loss and for noise trauma prevention guidelines.