How eye movements change sounds inside the ear
Mechanisms of Oculomotor Influences on Hearing
This work is looking at whether eye movements cause tiny sounds in the ear and how that happens, using animal experiments and comparisons with people who have middle ear or cochlear (outer hair cell) problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11308661 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient point of view, researchers are measuring tiny, internally generated sounds in the ear that happen when the eyes move (EMREOs). In animals they will selectively disable middle ear muscles or outer hair cells—by surgical or local chemical methods—to see which parts produce the EMREOs. They will then compare those animal results to measurements from people who have known middle ear or outer hair cell dysfunction. The goal is to learn how eye movements and the ear’s internal actuators work together and whether this affects what people hear.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with diagnosed middle ear muscle problems or outer hair cell (cochlear) dysfunction, including certain types of hearing loss, are the most relevant candidates for comparison or participation.
Not a fit: Patients whose hearing loss comes from unrelated causes (for example, auditory nerve damage) or who have no middle ear/cochlear actuator issues are unlikely to benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify why vision and hearing interact and help guide new diagnostics or treatments for hearing problems linked to middle ear or cochlear actuator dysfunction.
How similar studies have performed: This project builds on a recent discovery of eye movement-related eardrum oscillations and represents a novel line of work with limited prior human study.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Groh, Jennifer M — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Groh, Jennifer M
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.