scholarly journals Disturbed Balance of Inhibitory Signaling Links Hearing Loss and Cognition

2022 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marlies Knipper ◽  
Wibke Singer ◽  
Kerstin Schwabe ◽  
Gisela E. Hagberg ◽  
Yiwen Li Hegner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Inhibitory Activity ◽  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Gain Control ◽  
Auditory Pathway ◽  
Adjustment Processes ◽  
Age Dependent ◽  
Inhibitory Strength ◽  
Processing Deficits ◽  
Neural Gain

Neuronal hyperexcitability in the central auditory pathway linked to reduced inhibitory activity is associated with numerous forms of hearing loss, including noise damage, age-dependent hearing loss, and deafness, as well as tinnitus or auditory processing deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In most cases, the reduced central inhibitory activity and the accompanying hyperexcitability are interpreted as an active compensatory response to the absence of synaptic activity, linked to increased central neural gain control (increased output activity relative to reduced input). We here suggest that hyperexcitability also could be related to an immaturity or impairment of tonic inhibitory strength that typically develops in an activity-dependent process in the ascending auditory pathway with auditory experience. In these cases, high-SR auditory nerve fibers, which are critical for the shortest latencies and lowest sound thresholds, may have either not matured (possibly in congenital deafness or autism) or are dysfunctional (possibly after sudden, stressful auditory trauma or age-dependent hearing loss linked with cognitive decline). Fast auditory processing deficits can occur despite maintained basal hearing. In that case, tonic inhibitory strength is reduced in ascending auditory nuclei, and fast inhibitory parvalbumin positive interneuron (PV-IN) dendrites are diminished in auditory and frontal brain regions. This leads to deficits in central neural gain control linked to hippocampal LTP/LTD deficiencies, cognitive deficits, and unbalanced extra-hypothalamic stress control. Under these conditions, a diminished inhibitory strength may weaken local neuronal coupling to homeostatic vascular responses required for the metabolic support of auditory adjustment processes. We emphasize the need to distinguish these two states of excitatory/inhibitory imbalance in hearing disorders: (i) Under conditions of preserved fast auditory processing and sustained tonic inhibitory strength, an excitatory/inhibitory imbalance following auditory deprivation can maintain precise hearing through a memory linked, transient disinhibition that leads to enhanced spiking fidelity (central neural gain⇑) (ii) Under conditions of critically diminished fast auditory processing and reduced tonic inhibitory strength, hyperexcitability can be part of an increased synchronization over a broader frequency range, linked to reduced spiking reliability (central neural gain⇓). This latter stage mutually reinforces diminished metabolic support for auditory adjustment processes, increasing the risks for canonical dementia syndromes.

scholarly journals Age-Dependent Auditory Processing Deficits after Cochlear Synaptopathy Depend on Auditory Nerve Latency and the Ability of the Brain to Recruit LTP/BDNF

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 710
Author(s):  
Philine Marchetta ◽  
Daria Savitska ◽  
Angelika Kübler ◽  
Giulia Asola ◽  
Marie Manthey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Processing ◽  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Auditory Nerve ◽  
Temporal Discrimination ◽  
Long Term Potentiation ◽  
Nerve Fibers ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Age Dependent ◽  
Processing Deficits ◽  
Neural Gain

Age-related decoupling of auditory nerve fibers from hair cells (cochlear synaptopathy) has been linked to temporal processing deficits and impaired speech recognition performance. The link between both is elusive. We have previously demonstrated that cochlear synaptopathy, if centrally compensated through enhanced input/output function (neural gain), can prevent age-dependent temporal discrimination loss. It was also found that central neural gain after acoustic trauma was linked to hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and upregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Using middle-aged and old BDNF-live-exon-visualization (BLEV) reporter mice we analyzed the specific recruitment of LTP and the activity-dependent usage of Bdnf exon-IV and -VI promoters relative to cochlear synaptopathy and central (temporal) processing. For both groups, specimens with higher or lower ability to centrally compensate diminished auditory nerve activity were found. Strikingly, low compensating mouse groups differed from high compensators by prolonged auditory nerve latency. Moreover, low compensators exhibited attenuated responses to amplitude-modulated tones, and a reduction of hippocampal LTP and Bdnf transcript levels in comparison to high compensators. These results suggest that latency of auditory nerve processing, recruitment of hippocampal LTP, and Bdnf transcription, are key factors for age-dependent auditory processing deficits, rather than cochlear synaptopathy or aging per se.

scholarly journals Impaired Subcortical Detection of Auditory Changes in Schizophrenia but Not in Major Depression

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 193-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnim Johannes Gaebler ◽  
Jana Zweerings ◽  
Jan Willem Koten ◽  
Andrea Anna König ◽  
Bruce I Turetsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Major Depression ◽  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Region Of Interest ◽  
Auditory Pathway ◽  
Consistent Finding ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
Patient Groups ◽  
Processing Deficits ◽  
Cortical Dysfunction

Abstract The mismatch negativity is a cortical response to auditory changes and its reduction is a consistent finding in schizophrenia. Recent evidence revealed that the human brain detects auditory changes already at subcortical stages of the auditory pathway. This finding, however, raises the question where in the auditory hierarchy the schizophrenic deficit first evolves and whether the well-known cortical deficit may be a consequence of dysfunction at lower hierarchical levels. Finally, it should be resolved whether mismatch profiles differ between schizophrenia and affective disorders which exhibit auditory processing deficits as well. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to assess auditory mismatch processing in 29 patients with schizophrenia, 27 patients with major depression, and 31 healthy control subjects. Analysis included whole-brain activation, region of interest, path and connectivity analysis. In schizophrenia, mismatch deficits emerged at all stages of the auditory pathway including the inferior colliculus, thalamus, auditory, and prefrontal cortex. In depression, deficits were observed in the prefrontal cortex only. Path analysis revealed that activation deficits propagated from subcortical to cortical nodes in a feed-forward mechanism. Finally, both patient groups exhibited reduced connectivity along this processing stream. Auditory mismatch impairments in schizophrenia already manifest at the subcortical level. Moreover, subcortical deficits contribute to the well-known cortical deficits and show specificity for schizophrenia. In contrast, depression is associated with cortical dysfunction only. Hence, schizophrenia and major depression exhibit different neural profiles of sensory processing deficits. Our findings add to a converging body of evidence for brainstem and thalamic dysfunction as a hallmark of schizophrenia.

Suprathreshold auditory processing deficits in noise: Effects of hearing loss and age

2016 ◽  
Vol 331 ◽  
pp. 27-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steffen Kortlang ◽  
Manfred Mauermann ◽  
Stephan D. Ewert
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Noise Effects ◽  
Processing Deficits

scholarly journals Case Report: Auditory Neuropathy and Central Auditory Processing Deficits in a Neuro-Otological Case-Study of Infratentorial Superficial Siderosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natallia Kharytaniuk ◽  
Peter Cowley ◽  
David J. Werring ◽  
Doris-Eva Bamiou
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Auditory Pathway ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Images ◽  
Auditory Neuropathy ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Superficial Siderosis ◽  
Central Auditory Processing ◽  
Processing Deficits

Hearing and balance impairment are the most frequently reported features of infratentorial (classical) superficial siderosis (iSS). There are few comprehensive descriptions of audiovestibular function in iSS and therefore limited understanding of the affected segment(s) of the audiovestibular pathway. In addition, monitoring disease progression and response to treatment is challenging and currently mainly guided by subjective patient reports and magnetic resonance imaging. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no previous reports assessing central auditory function in iSS. We describe such findings in a patient with iSS in an attempt to precisely localize the site of the audiovestibular dysfunction, determine its severity and functional impact. We confirm the presence of (asymmetrical) auditory neuropathy and identify central auditory processing deficits, suggesting involvement of the central auditory pathway beyond the brainstem. We correlate the audiological and vestibular findings with self-report measures and the siderosis appearances on brain magnetic resonance images.

scholarly journals Speech-evoked Brainstem Auditory Responses and Auditory Processing Skills: A Correlation in Adults with Hearing Loss

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (01) ◽  
pp. 038-044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taissane Sanguebuche ◽  
Bruna Peixe ◽  
Rúbia Bruno ◽  
Eliara Biaggio ◽  
Michele Garcia
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Auditory Pathway ◽  
Gap Detection ◽  
Behavioral Tests ◽  
Behavioral Skills ◽  
Auditory Responses ◽  
Level Difference ◽  
Masking Level Difference ◽  
Brainstem Response

Introduction The auditory system consists of sensory structures and central connections. The evaluation of the auditory pathway at a central level can be performed through behavioral and electrophysiological tests, because they are complementary to each other and provide important information about comprehension. Objective To correlate the findings of speech brainstem-evoked response audiometry with the behavioral tests Random Gap Detection Test and Masking Level Difference in adults with hearing loss. Methods All patients were submitted to a basic audiological evaluation, to the aforementioned behavioral tests, and to an electrophysiological assessment, by means of click-evoked and speech-evoked brainstem response audiometry. Results There were no statistically significant values among the electrophysiological test and the behavioral tests. However, there was a significant correlation between the V and A waves, as well as the D and F waves, of the speech-evoked brainstem response audiometry peaks. Such correlations are positive, indicating that the increase of a variable implies an increase in another and vice versa. Conclusion It was possible to correlate the findings of the speech-evoked brainstem response audiometry with those of the behavioral tests Random Gap Detection and Masking Level Difference. However, there was no statistically significant correlation between them. This shows that the electrophysiological evaluation does not depend uniquely on the behavioral skills of temporal resolution and selective attention.

scholarly journals Speech Evoked Auditory Brainstem Response in Stuttering

Scientifica ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Akbar Tahaei ◽  
Hassan Ashayeri ◽  
Akram Pourbakht ◽  
Mohammad Kamali
Keyword(s):  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Auditory Pathway ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Auditory Brainstem Responses ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Central Auditory Processing ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Speech Stimuli ◽  
Brainstem Response ◽  
Processing Deficits

Auditory processing deficits have been hypothesized as an underlying mechanism for stuttering. Previous studies have demonstrated abnormal responses in subjects with persistent developmental stuttering (PDS) at the higher level of the central auditory system using speech stimuli. Recently, the potential usefulness of speech evoked auditory brainstem responses in central auditory processing disorders has been emphasized. The current study used the speech evoked ABR to investigate the hypothesis that subjects with PDS have specific auditory perceptual dysfunction.Objectives. To determine whether brainstem responses to speech stimuli differ between PDS subjects and normal fluent speakers.Methods. Twenty-five subjects with PDS participated in this study. The speech-ABRs were elicited by the 5-formant synthesized syllable/da/, with duration of 40 ms.Results. There were significant group differences for the onset and offset transient peaks. Subjects with PDS had longer latencies for the onset and offset peaks relative to the control group.Conclusions. Subjects with PDS showed a deficient neural timing in the early stages of the auditory pathway consistent with temporal processing deficits and their abnormal timing may underlie to their disfluency.

scholarly journals Intrinsic noise improves speech recognition in a computational model of the auditory pathway

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Achim Schilling ◽  
Richard Gerum ◽  
Alexandra Zankl ◽  
Claus Metzner ◽  
Andreas Maier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Computational Model ◽  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Intrinsic Noise ◽  
Auditory Pathway ◽  
Neuronal Firing ◽  
Surprising Result ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Early Processing

AbstractNoise is generally considered to harm information processing performance. However, in the context of stochastic resonance, noise has been shown to improve signal detection of weak subthreshold signals, and it has been proposed that the brain might actively exploit this phenomenon. Especially within the auditory system, recent studies suggest that intrinsic noise plays a key role in signal processing and might even correspond to increased spontaneous neuronal firing rates observed in early processing stages of the auditory brain stem and cortex after hearing loss. Here we present a computational model of the auditory pathway based on a deep neural network, trained on speech recognition. We simulate different levels of hearing loss and investigate the effect of intrinsic noise. Remarkably, speech recognition after hearing loss actually improves with additional intrinsic noise. This surprising result indicates that intrinsic noise might not only play a crucial role in human auditory processing, but might even be beneficial for contemporary machine learning approaches.

Patterns of Auditory Processing and Articulation Deficits in Academically Deficient Juvenile Delinquents

1983 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter W. Zinkus ◽  
Marvin I. Gottlieb
Keyword(s):  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Juvenile Delinquents ◽  
Language Disorders ◽  
Treatment Programs ◽  
Early School ◽  
Articulation Disorders ◽  
Processing Deficits ◽  
Academically Deficient ◽  
School Period ◽  
Speech And Language Disorders

Auditory processing deficits and articulation disorders were studied in a group of male juvenile delinquents. Significant auditory processing deficits were frequently observed and were significantly related to underachievement in reading, spelling, and arithmetic. In addition, articulation disorders were present in over 60% of the delinquent subjects. The results are interpreted to indicate that the evaluation of speech capabilities and auditory processing skills should be an integral part of treatment programs for delinquent populations. The importance of early intervention through identification and treatment of speech and language disorders in the early school period is supported.

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