Understanding how the brain improves hearing skills with training
Official title: Non-sensory Circuits for Auditory Perceptual Learning
Funded at Univ of Maryland, College Park · NIH-11003711 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how special training can help improve hearing for older adults with hearing loss, focusing on how a part of the brain helps us understand sounds better, especially for those using hearing aids.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Maryland, College Park NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Park, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $470,098 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC020742-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11003711 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults experiencing age-related hearing loss or deficits.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with normal hearing or those with hearing loss due to non-age-related factors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how training can enhance auditory perception, particularly in individuals with age-related hearing loss. It focuses on the role of the orbitofrontal cortex, a brain region involved in processing rewards and expectations, in improving hearing abilities through auditory tasks. By studying the neural circuits involved, the research aims to uncover how these processes can lead to better speech and music recognition, especially for users of assistive listening devices. The study employs advanced techniques like multichannel electrophysiology and optogenetics to explore these mechanisms in a model organism, the Mongolian gerbil.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved auditory training methods that enhance hearing capabilities in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the role of non-sensory processes in perceptual learning, but this specific approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Maryland, College Park
College Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Caras, Melissa Lynne — Univ of Maryland, College Park
- Study coordinator: Caras, Melissa Lynne
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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.