How the inner ear boosts sounds and makes tiny ear noises
Understanding Cochlear Amplification and Otoacoustic Emissions
Researchers are using computer models and ear measurements to learn how the cochlea amplifies sound and produces otoacoustic emissions, with the aim of improving hearing tests and care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11295392 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project blends computer modeling, lab measurements, and hearing tests to understand how the cochlea amplifies sound and creates tiny ear sounds called otoacoustic emissions (OAEs). If you take part, researchers may record your OAEs and hearing responses to changing tones while comparing those results to model predictions, and they will also measure physiological responses and account for reflexes. They will examine how the direction and speed of frequency sweeps and distortion-product OAEs relate to cochlear mechanics. The team will use these findings to refine models and make noninvasive ear tests more informative.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people willing to have noninvasive hearing tests and OAE recordings, including volunteers with normal hearing and those with hearing loss who can travel to the testing site.
Not a fit: People needing immediate medical or surgical treatment for acute ear conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic-mechanisms research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make OAE-based hearing tests more accurate and help detect or characterize cochlear problems earlier.
How similar studies have performed: Related OAE and cochlear mechanics research has helped improve newborn screening and diagnostic tools, though the specific focus on sweep-rate and direction effects is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shera, Christopher a — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Shera, Christopher a
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.