Understanding how hormones and sound affect hearing and communication in fish
Official title: Hormonal and acoustic regulation of the dopaminergic auditory efferent system: improving detection of social acoustic signals at the level of the inner ear
Funded at Brooklyn College · NIH-10439364 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how hormones and sounds affect hearing in fish, which might help us understand how our own hearing works, especially when it comes to social interactions and hearing loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brooklyn College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $461,989 |
| NIH project number | 1R15DC020327-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10439364 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing hearing loss or difficulties in social communication due to auditory processing issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with normal hearing and no issues related to auditory processing or communication are unlikely to benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how hormonal and acoustic signals influence the dopaminergic system in the inner ear, particularly in the context of social communication. By studying the plainfin midshipman fish, the research aims to uncover how these signals affect auditory processing and the ability to detect social vocalizations. The study will measure changes in dopamine neurotransmission in response to hormones and characterize how social sounds can modulate dopamine synthesis. This approach could provide insights into hearing mechanisms that are relevant to humans, especially in relation to hearing loss and attention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of auditory processing and lead to improved treatments for hearing-related disorders.
How similar studies have gone: While this research explores novel aspects of auditory processing, similar studies have shown promising results in understanding the role of dopamine in hearing.
Where this research is happening
-
Brooklyn College
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Forlano, Paul M. — Brooklyn College
- Study coordinator: Forlano, Paul 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.