How early inner-ear activity shapes hearing
Spontaneous activity in the developing auditory system
['FUNDING_R01'] · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · NIH-11367570
This project looks at how bursts of activity in the developing inner ear and brain help set up normal hearing in infants and young listeners.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11367570 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
As a parent or patient, this work aims to understand how tiny bursts of electrical activity in the developing inner ear and brain help wire hearing circuits before we're exposed to sound. The team uses genetically modified mice that show when key signaling enzymes are active, time-lapse imaging of cochlear tissue and central auditory centers, and targeted genetic manipulations to change signaling in supporting cells. They focus on ATP release and a newly described local ERK signaling pattern called SpaRKS that appears alongside ATP-driven nerve firing. Although carried out in animals and tissue samples, the findings could explain how proper frequency tuning and sound maps are established during early life.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Newborns and infants at risk for congenital hearing loss or early auditory processing disorders could be the most likely candidates for future clinical efforts informed by this work.
Not a fit: Adults with hearing loss from noise exposure or age-related degeneration are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this development-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If confirmed, these findings could point to new ways to detect, prevent, or treat developmental hearing problems in newborns and young children.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal studies have shown that spontaneous cochlear activity helps organize auditory circuits, but the SpaRKS ERK signaling mechanism described here is newly identified and still needs to be tested.
Where this research is happening
BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES
- JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY — BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BERGLES, DWIGHT E — JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: BERGLES, DWIGHT E
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 below.