Relearning how to tell where sounds come from after one-sided hearing loss
Learning Related Plasticity in Mammalian Sound Localization Circuits
This project looks at how the brain rewires to help adults with one-sided (monaural) hearing loss relearn sound direction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11243085 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use animal models and high-resolution imaging to watch neurons in the auditory cortex and downstream centers as subjects relearn to localize sounds after one-ear hearing loss. They will manipulate descending (corticofugal) pathways and measure changes in neural activity and behavior to find which circuits support relearning. The team will relate these circuit findings to known human behaviors to identify practical targets for rehabilitation. The goal is to turn those targets into clearer strategies that could one day improve training or therapies for adults with monaural hearing loss.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (typically age 21 and older) with one-sided (monaural) hearing loss who are interested in improving sound localization would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People with normal hearing or with profound bilateral hearing loss are unlikely to benefit directly from the specific relearning approaches targeted here.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new rehabilitation methods or therapies that help people with one-sided hearing loss better locate sounds and understand speech in noisy environments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and human studies show training can improve sound localization after one-sided hearing loss, but the specific cortical-to-subcortical circuit mechanisms targeted here remain poorly understood.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Apostolides, Pierre F — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Apostolides, Pierre F
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.