Auditory arousal and brain circuits in hearing loss and normal aging
Official title: Auditory-Arousal Circuits in Normal and Disordered Hearing
Funded at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · NIH-11449365 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how hearing and arousal systems interact across wakefulness and sleep, especially after hearing loss, to understand how sounds influence alertness and behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 10, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $467,323 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DC023339-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11449365 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with hearing loss or tinnitus who experience sleep disturbances or altered arousal responses.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without hearing loss or tinnitus or those without sleep-related complaints may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project will examine how the auditory system stays sensitive across different brain states, including sleep, and how it connects with arousal centers. By studying people with hearing loss and tinnitus, the team will map central auditory activity and arousal pathways and relate these to sleep disruption and perceptual changes. A behavioral task will measure how increased auditory gain links to arousal and wakefulness, aiming to identify targets to improve quality of life for individuals with hearing disorders. The study will use human subjects to explore neural activity across wakefulness, sleep, and potentially sleep-related symptoms in hearing loss and tinnitus.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new ways to reduce sleep disturbance and improve sound perception for people with hearing loss or tinnitus.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown central auditory changes after hearing loss, with growing evidence that arousal networks interact with auditory processing.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chambers, Anna R — Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Study coordinator: Chambers, Anna R
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.