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Tyszkiewicz C, Hwang SK, Manickam B, Jakubczak B, Walters KM, Bolt MW, Santos R, Liu CN. Sex-related differences in retinal function in Wistar rats: implications for toxicity and safety studies. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2023; 5:1176665. [PMID: 37313214 PMCID: PMC10259507 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2023.1176665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Wistar Han rats are a preferred strain of rodents for general toxicology and safety pharmacology studies in drug development. In some of these studies, visual functional tests that assess for retinal toxicity are included as an additional endpoint. Although the influence of gender on human retinal function has been documented for more than 6 decades, preclinically it is still uncertain if there are differences in retinal function between naïve male and female Wistar Han rats. Methods: In this study, sex-related differences in the retinal function were quantified by analyzing electroretinography (ERG) in 7-9-week-old (n = 52 males and 51 females) and 21-23-week-old Wistar Han rats (n = 48 males and 51 females). Optokinetic tracking response, brainstem auditory evoked potential, ultrasonic vocalization and histology were tested and evaluated in a subset of animals to investigate the potential compensation mechanisms of spontaneous blindness. Results/Discussion: Absence of scotopic and photopic ERG responses was found in 13% of 7-9-week-old (7/52) and 19% of 21-23-week-old males (9/48), but none of female rats (0/51). The averaged amplitudes of rod- and cone-mediated ERG b-wave responses obtained from males were significantly smaller than the amplitudes of the same responses from age-matched females (-43% and -26%, respectively) at 7-9 weeks of age. There was no difference in the retinal and brain morphology, brainstem auditory responses, or ultrasonic vocalizations between the animals with normal and abnormal ERGs at 21-23 weeks of age. In summary, male Wistar Han rats had altered retinal responses, including a complete lack of responses to test flash stimuli (i.e., blindness), when compared with female rats at 7-9 and 21-23 weeks of age. Therefore, sex differences should be considered when using Wistar Han rats in toxicity and safety pharmacology studies with regards to data interpretation of retinal functional assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ben Jakubczak
- Comparative Medicine, Pfizer, Groton, CT, United States
| | - Karen M. Walters
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer, Groton, CT, United States
| | - Michael W. Bolt
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
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Ranjbar N, Shahbazi A, Arefi HN, Zade NN, Nazari MA, Jafarzad S. Changes in late-latency auditory evoked potentials after tinnitus suppression using auditory stimulation. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 2022; 88 Suppl 3:S130-S138. [PMID: 36335029 PMCID: PMC9761106 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2022.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Tinnitus can result from auditory system reorganization due to neural activity dysfunctions. Auditory stimulation can cause temporary or persistent tinnitus alleviation by altering the neural generators. The present study investigated the changes in Late-Latency Auditory Evoked Potentials (LLAEPs) after tinnitus suppression using auditory stimulation with short-term Residual Inhibition (RI) and long-term Tinnitus Masker (TM). METHODS The study included 40 participates with equal numbers in the Tinnitus Group (TG), including the chronic tinnitus subjects, and the Control Group (CG), including matched volunteers. The participants had normal hearing in conventional audiometry. All the participants underwent LLAEP recording pre-intervention and after a one-minute auditory stimulation (RI), as well as a pre-intervention Dichotic Digit Test (DDT) as a behavioral assessment of the selective attention. Moreover, TG underwent a 3-month course of TM, a third LLAEP recording post-TM, a second DDT post-TM, and the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) before and after the TM. RESULTS In the baseline LLAEP recording, the TG had significantly later N1, P3a, and P3b latencies, as well as significantly lower P3a and P3b amplitudes. The second LLAEP recording showed a significant intragroup increase in P3a amplitude and a significant decrease in P3a latency in the TG, while no significant intragroup difference was observed in the CG. In the third LLAEP recording performed on TG, the P3a amplitude and latency had significant changes compared to the second recording, while the N1 latency was significantly decreased. Moreover, the DDT and THI scores had significant improvement after the TM in TG. CONCLUSIONS The present study showed the neurophysiological changes after short-term (RI) and long-term (TM) auditory stimulations in tinnitus subjects. The LLAEP changes suggest that these interventions lead to tinnitus suppression through common mechanisms. The electrophysiological observation was also confirmed using behavioral assessments. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE This study type is a "comparative study" with the level of evidence "3".
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Affiliation(s)
- Nastaran Ranjbar
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Shahbazi
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Hossein Namvar Arefi
- Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Navid Noori Zade
- Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department, School of Medicine, Imam Reza Educational Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Nazari
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sadegh Jafarzad
- Department of Audiology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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Delayed Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) in children after sight-recovery. Neuropsychologia 2021; 163:108089. [PMID: 34801518 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.108089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Studies in non-human animal models have revealed that in early development, the onset of visual input gates the critical period closure of some auditory functions. The study of rare individuals whose sight was restored after a period of congenital blindness offers the rare opportunity to assess whether early visual input is a prerequisite for the full development of auditory functions in humans as well. Here, we investigated whether a few months of delayed visual onset would affect the development of Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABRs). ABRs are widely used in the clinical practice to assess both functionality and development of the subcortical auditory pathway and, provide reliable data at the individual level. We collected Auditory Brainstem Responses from two case studies, young children (both having less than 5 years of age) who experienced a transient visual deprivation since birth due to congenital bilateral dense cataracts (BC), and who acquired sight at about two months of age. As controls, we tested 41 children (sighted controls, SC) with typical development, as well as two children who were treated (at about two months of age) for congenital monocular cataracts (MC). The SC group data served to predict, at the individual level, wave latencies of each BC and MC participant. Statistics were performed both at the single subject as well as at the group levels on latencies of main ABR waves (I, III, V and SN10). Results revealed delayed response latencies for both BC children compared with the SC group starting from the wave III. Conversely, no difference emerged between MC children and the SC group. These findings suggest that in case the onset of patterned visual input is delayed, the functional development of the subcortical auditory pathway lags behind typical developmental trajectories. Ultimately results are in favor of the presence of a crossmodal sensitive period in the human subcortical auditory system.
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No lasting impact of Covid-19 on the auditory system: a prospective cohort study. The Journal of Laryngology & Otology 2021. [PMCID: PMC8576134 DOI: 10.1017/s002221512100267x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Objective Otological complications are considered early symptoms of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2; however, it is unknown how long these symptoms last and whether the virus leaves any hearing disorders post-recovery. Methods This prospective cohort study comprised 31 mild or moderate confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 patients and 26 age-matched control peers (21–50 years old). Patients were questioned about their otological symptoms, and their hearing status was assessed during one month post-diagnosis. Results Patients showed a significantly higher rate of otological symptoms (hearing loss, ear fullness, ear pain, dizziness or vertigo, communication difficulties, and hyperacusis) versus the control group (p ≤ 0.022). The symptoms resolved early, between 2 and 8 days after their appearance. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in pure tone and extended high-frequency audiometry, transient evoked otoacoustic emissions, distortion product otoacoustic emissions, or auditory brainstem response following recovery. Conclusion The findings indicate that, in mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 cases, otological symptoms resolve within a week, and the virus has no lasting impact on the auditory system.
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Parker A, Slack C, Skoe E. Comparisons of Auditory Brainstem Responses Between a Laboratory and Simulated Home Environment. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2020; 63:3877-3892. [PMID: 33108246 DOI: 10.1044/2020_jslhr-20-00383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Miniaturization of digital technologies has created new opportunities for remote health care and neuroscientific fieldwork. The current study assesses comparisons between in-home auditory brainstem response (ABR) recordings and recordings obtained in a traditional lab setting. Method Click-evoked and speech-evoked ABRs were recorded in 12 normal-hearing, young adult participants over three test sessions in (a) a shielded sound booth within a research lab, (b) a simulated home environment, and (c) the research lab once more. The same single-family house was used for all home testing. Results Analyses of ABR latencies, a common clinical metric, showed high repeatability between the home and lab environments across both the click-evoked and speech-evoked ABRs. Like ABR latencies, response consistency and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were robust both in the lab and in the home and did not show significant differences between locations, although variability between the home and lab was higher than latencies, with two participants influencing this lower repeatability between locations. Response consistency and SNR also patterned together, with a trend for higher SNRs to pair with more consistent responses in both the home and lab environments. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of obtaining high-quality ABR recordings within a simulated home environment that closely approximate those recorded in a more traditional recording environment. This line of work may open doors to greater accessibility to underserved clinical and research populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Parker
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs
- Connecticut Institute for Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs
| | - Candace Slack
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs
| | - Erika Skoe
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs
- Connecticut Institute for Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs
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Coffey EBJ, Nicol T, White-Schwoch T, Chandrasekaran B, Krizman J, Skoe E, Zatorre RJ, Kraus N. Evolving perspectives on the sources of the frequency-following response. Nat Commun 2019; 10:5036. [PMID: 31695046 PMCID: PMC6834633 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13003-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The auditory frequency-following response (FFR) is a non-invasive index of the fidelity of sound encoding in the brain, and is used to study the integrity, plasticity, and behavioral relevance of the neural encoding of sound. In this Perspective, we review recent evidence suggesting that, in humans, the FFR arises from multiple cortical and subcortical sources, not just subcortically as previously believed, and we illustrate how the FFR to complex sounds can enhance the wider field of auditory neuroscience. Far from being of use only to study basic auditory processes, the FFR is an uncommonly multifaceted response yielding a wealth of information, with much yet to be tapped.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily B J Coffey
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, 1455 Boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest, Montréal, QC, H3G 1M8, Canada.
- International Laboratory for Brain, Music, and Sound Research (BRAMS), Montréal, QC, Canada.
- Centre for Research on Brain, Language and Music (CRBLM), McGill University, 3640 de la Montagne, Montréal, QC, H3G 2A8, Canada.
| | - Trent Nicol
- Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Communication Sciences, Northwestern University, 2240 Campus Dr., Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Travis White-Schwoch
- Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Communication Sciences, Northwestern University, 2240 Campus Dr., Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Bharath Chandrasekaran
- Communication Sciences and Disorders, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Forbes Tower, 3600 Atwood St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Jennifer Krizman
- Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Communication Sciences, Northwestern University, 2240 Campus Dr., Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Erika Skoe
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, The Connecticut Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Connecticut, 2 Alethia Drive, Unit 1085, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| | - Robert J Zatorre
- International Laboratory for Brain, Music, and Sound Research (BRAMS), Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre for Research on Brain, Language and Music (CRBLM), McGill University, 3640 de la Montagne, Montréal, QC, H3G 2A8, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, 3801 rue Université, Montréal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Nina Kraus
- Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Communication Sciences, Northwestern University, 2240 Campus Dr., Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, 2205 Tech Dr., Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, Northwestern University, 420 E Superior St., Chicago, IL, 6011, USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate how tinnitus affects the processing of speech and non-speech stimuli at the subcortical level. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional analytical study. SETTING Academic, tertiary referral center. PATIENTS Eighteen individuals with tinnitus and 20 controls without tinnitus matched based on their age and sex. All subjects had normal hearing sensitivity. INTERVENTION Diagnostic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The effect of tinnitus on the parameters of auditory brainstem responses (ABR) to non-speech (click-ABR), and speech (sABR) stimuli was investigated. RESULTS Latencies of click ABR in waves III, V, and Vn, as well as inter-peak latency (IPL) of I to V were significantly longer in individuals with tinnitus compared with the controls. Individuals with tinnitus demonstrated significantly longer latencies of all sABR waves than the control group. The tinnitus patients also exhibited a significant decrease in the slope of the V-A complex and reduced encoding of the first and higher formants. A significant difference was observed between the two groups in the spectral magnitudes, the first formant frequency range (F1) and a higher frequency region (HF). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that maladaptive neural plasticity resulting from tinnitus can be subcortically measured and affects timing processing of both speech and non-speech stimuli. The findings have been discussed based on models of maladaptive plasticity and the interference of tinnitus as an internal noise in synthesizing speech auditory stimuli.
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de Borst AW, de Gelder B. Mental Imagery Follows Similar Cortical Reorganization as Perception: Intra-Modal and Cross-Modal Plasticity in Congenitally Blind. Cereb Cortex 2018; 29:2859-2875. [DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Revised: 05/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Cortical plasticity in congenitally blind individuals leads to cross-modal activation of the visual cortex and may lead to superior perceptual processing in the intact sensory domains. Although mental imagery is often defined as a quasi-perceptual experience, it is unknown whether it follows similar cortical reorganization as perception in blind individuals. In this study, we show that auditory versus tactile perception evokes similar intra-modal discriminative patterns in congenitally blind compared with sighted participants. These results indicate that cortical plasticity following visual deprivation does not influence broad intra-modal organization of auditory and tactile perception as measured by our task. Furthermore, not only the blind, but also the sighted participants showed cross-modal discriminative patterns for perception modality in the visual cortex. During mental imagery, both groups showed similar decoding accuracies for imagery modality in the intra-modal primary sensory cortices. However, no cross-modal discriminative information for imagery modality was found in early visual cortex of blind participants, in contrast to the sighted participants. We did find evidence of cross-modal activation of higher visual areas in blind participants, including the representation of specific-imagined auditory features in visual area V4.
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Affiliation(s)
- A W de Borst
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
- Brain and Emotion Lab, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - B de Gelder
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
- Brain and Emotion Lab, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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Abstract
Early blindness causes fundamental alterations of neural function across more than 25% of cortex-changes that span the gamut from metabolism to behavior and collectively represent one of the most dramatic examples of plasticity in the human brain. The goal of this review is to describe how the remarkable behavioral and neuroanatomical compensations demonstrated by blind individuals provide insights into the extent, mechanisms, and limits of human brain plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ione Fine
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA;
| | - Ji-Min Park
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA;
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Jafari Z, Malayeri S. Subcortical encoding of speech cues in children with congenital blindness. Restor Neurol Neurosci 2018; 34:757-68. [PMID: 27589504 DOI: 10.3233/rnn-160639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital visual deprivation underlies neural plasticity in different brain areas, and provides an outstanding opportunity to study the neuroplastic capabilities of the brain. OBJECTIVES The present study aimed to investigate the effect of congenital blindness on subcortical auditory processing using electrophysiological and behavioral assessments in children. METHODS A total of 47 children aged 8-12 years, including 22 congenitally blind (CB) children and 25 normal-sighted (NS) control, were studied. All children were tested using an auditory brainstem response (ABR) test with both click and speech stimuli. Speech recognition and musical abilities were tested using standard tools. RESULTS Significant differences were observed between the two groups in speech ABR wave latencies A, F and O (p≤0.043), wave amplitude F (p = 0.039), V-A slope (p = 0.026), and three spectral magnitudes F0, F1 and HF (p≤0.002). CB children showed a superior performance compared to NS peers in all the subtests and the total score of musical abilities (p≤0.003). Moreover, they had significantly higher scores during the nonsense syllable test in noise than the NS children (p = 0.034). Significant negative correlations were found only in CB children between the total music score and both wave A (p = 0.039) and wave F (p = 0.029) latencies, as well as nonsense-syllable test in noise and the wave A latency (p = 0.041). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that neuroplasticity resulting from congenital blindness can be measured subcortically and has a heightened effect on temporal, musical and speech processing abilities. The findings have been discussed based on models of plasticity and the influence of corticofugal modulation in synthesizing complex auditory stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Jafari
- Rehabilitation Research Center (RRC), Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran.,Department of Basic Sciences in Rehabilitation, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran.,Canadian Center for Behavioral Neuroscience (CCBN), University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
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Gamond L, Vecchi T, Ferrari C, Merabet LB, Cattaneo Z. Emotion processing in early blind and sighted individuals. Neuropsychology 2017; 31:516-524. [PMID: 28287776 DOI: 10.1037/neu0000360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Emotion processing is known to be mediated by a complex network of cortical and subcortical regions with evidence of specialized hemispheric lateralization within the brain. In light of prior evidence indicating that lateralization of cognitive functions (such as language) may depend on normal visual development, we investigated whether the lack of prior visual experience would have an impact on the development of specialized hemispheric lateralization in emotional processing. METHOD We addressed this issue by comparing performance in early blind and sighted controls on a dichotic listening task requiring the detection of specific emotional vocalizations (i.e., suggestive of happiness or sadness) presented independently to either ear. RESULTS Consistent with previous studies, we found that sighted individuals showed enhanced detection of positive vocalizations when presented in the right ear (i.e., processed within the left hemisphere) and negative vocalizations when presented in the left ear (i.e., right hemisphere). It is interesting to note that although blind individuals were as accurate as sighted controls in detecting the valance of the vocalization, performance was not consistent with any pattern of specialized hemispheric lateralization. CONCLUSIONS Overall, these results suggest that although the lack of prior visual experience may not lead to impaired emotion processing performance, the underlying neurophysiological substrate (i.e., degree of special hemispheric lateralization) may depend on normal visual development. (PsycINFO Database Record
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucile Gamond
- Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca
| | - Tomaso Vecchi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia
| | | | - Lotfi B Merabet
- The Laboratory for Visual Neuroplasticity, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School
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Boroujeni FM, Heidari F, Rouzbahani M, Kamali M. Comparison of auditory stream segregation in sighted and early blind individuals. Neurosci Lett 2017; 638:218-221. [PMID: 27986498 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2016] [Revised: 12/04/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
An important characteristic of the auditory system is the capacity to analyze complex sounds and make decisions on the source of the constituent parts of these sounds. Blind individuals compensate for the lack of visual information by an increase input from other sensory modalities, including increased auditory information. The purpose of the current study was to compare the fission boundary (FB) threshold of sighted and early blind individuals through spectral aspects using a psychoacoustic auditory stream segregation (ASS) test. This study was conducted on 16 sighted and 16 early blind adult individuals. The applied stimuli were presented sequentially as the pure tones A and B and as a triplet ABA-ABA pattern at the intensity of 40dBSL. The A tone frequency was selected as the basis at values of 500, 1000, and 2000Hz. The B tone was presented with the difference of a 4-100% above the basis tone frequency. Blind individuals had significantly lower FB thresholds than sighted people. FB was independent of the frequency of the tone A when expressed as the difference in the number of equivalent rectangular bandwidths (ERBs). Early blindness may increase perceptual separation of the acoustic stimuli to form accurate representations of the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Moghadasi Boroujeni
- Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Heidari
- Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Rouzbahani
- Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Kamali
- Department of Basic Sciences in Rehabilitation, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Dlugaiczyk J, Hecker D, Neubert C, Buerbank S, Campanelli D, Becker CM, Betz H, Knipper M, Rüttiger L, Schick B. Loss of glycine receptors containing the α3 subunit compromises auditory nerve activity, but not outer hair cell function. Hear Res 2016; 337:25-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2016.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2015] [Revised: 04/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/13/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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The layering of auditory experiences in driving experience-dependent subcortical plasticity. Hear Res 2014; 311:36-48. [PMID: 24445149 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2014.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2013] [Revised: 12/26/2013] [Accepted: 01/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
In this review article, we focus on recent studies of experiential influences on brainstem function. Using these studies as scaffolding, we then lay the initial groundwork for the Layering Hypothesis, which explicates how experiences combine to shape subcortical auditory function. Our hypothesis builds on the idea that the subcortical auditory system reflects the collective auditory experiences of an individual, including interactions with sound that occurred in the distant past. Our goal for this article is to begin to shift the field away from examining the effect of single experiences to examining how different auditory experiences layer or superimpose on each other. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled <Annual Reviews 2014>.
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