Dendritic wiring and learning in the brain's binaural hearing center
Official title: Dendritic integration and synaptic plasticity in the MSO
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11533634 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers study how the brain develops the ability to locate sounds in space by looking at the medial superior olive, a key brain region for processing timing cues between the ears.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2004 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $284,532 |
| NIH project number | 2R56DC006877-18A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11533634 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include children with normal or altered early auditory development and researchers seeking translational insights into pediatric hearing and localization.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy adults or future adults without pediatric auditory concerns may not directly benefit from this developmental-focused work.
What this research studies
This project examines how neurons in the brainstem adjust their dendrites, excitability, and synaptic strengths during early development to enable precise sound localization. By focusing on the medial superior olive, it aims to uncover how interaural time differences are learned and encoded as children grow. The work connects development, neural circuits, and real-world hearing challenges, including how early hearing loss can impact later speech perception. Insights could inform therapies or training to support better auditory spatial processing in kids with hearing difficulties.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could improve our understanding of how children learn to localize sounds, potentially guiding interventions for hearing loss and helping children hear speech more clearly in noisy environments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in animal models and human auditory development suggest that developmental changes in dendritic structure and excitability influence localization abilities, making this a promising, but complex, approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Golding, Nace L — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Golding, Nace L
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.