Temporal processing in the superior olivary complex: impact of deafness and peripheral electrical stimulation strategies

Funding Activity

Website
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/280609

Funding Status
Closed

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Funded Activity Summary

The brain can use timing or temporal information to extract the frequency and location of sound. Timing information is coded by the pattern of responses of brain cells that match the period of the sound wave. These responses can be measured as small voltage spikes or action potentials. Integration of these responses from one brain-processing site to another relies on precise (temporally matched) firing among a population of cells that are activated in response to sound. Sound localisation relies on this temporal integration from information coming from both ears. Specifically, the integration of this information relies on the balance of incoming inputs from both ears, which maintains an appropriate time window depending on the location of sound in space. Recent evidence suggests that in deafness this process of integration is disrupted which may be possibly due to an inability to regulate the coherent activation of cells. This has implications for cochlear implant users whose ability to process temporal information is compromised by a loss of temporal coding ability resulting from prior deafness. In this project we will measure voltage changes occurring inside cells of the superior olivary complex, which contains a group of structures that integrate input from both ears. We will examine the ability of these cells to process temporal information in normal and deafened conditions. This study will lead not only to an understanding of basic mechanisms for auditory coding but also to improved electrical stimulation strategies for patients with cochlear implants.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2004

End Date: 01-01-2006

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $225,500.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Medical virology

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

auditory physiology | cochlear implants | cochlear nucleus | deafness | hearing | neurophysiology | superior olivary complex | temporal coding

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