Understanding how brain regions communicate during difficult listening situations
Official title: Role of connectivity between hippocampus and auditory cortex in adverse listening conditions
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11116178 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how two important parts of the brain work together to help us understand speech when it's hard to hear, like in noisy places, and it's for anyone interested in how our brains process sound, especially as we age.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $208,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DC021766-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11116178 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include older adults experiencing age-related hearing loss or cognitive decline.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with normal hearing and no cognitive impairments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the connection between the hippocampus and auditory cortex in the brain during challenging listening conditions, such as when speech is unclear. Using advanced 7 Tesla functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the study aims to observe how these brain regions interact and support speech comprehension. By examining the brain's activity at a very detailed level, researchers hope to uncover how feedback from the hippocampus enhances our ability to understand degraded speech. This could lead to a better understanding of auditory processing in aging and related conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could improve strategies for helping individuals with hearing difficulties, particularly in understanding speech in noisy environments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research using advanced imaging techniques has shown promise in understanding brain connectivity and auditory processing, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lankinen, Kaisu Marja — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Lankinen, Kaisu Marja
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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.