Hearing loss is a very common and often debilitating neurological disorder, estimated to affect over 5% of the population. A major source of disability related to hearing loss stems from deficits in speech processing. Assistive devices, such as hearing aids, can yield modest improvements in speech perception, but these devices often provide inadequate utility in complex, challenging environments. We have developed a new approach to drive robust, specific plasticity that substantially enhances recovery after neurological damage. This strategy uses brief bursts of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) paired with sound presentation. Like humans, rats are significantly impaired in their ability to accurately discriminate speech sounds following intense noise exposure. Additionally, noise trauma results in substantial maladaptive plasticity in multiple auditory structures. In these experiments, we test the hypothesis that VNS paired with sound therapy, 300 times per day for 20 days, will reverse maladaptive plasticity and restore auditory processing. Following the last day of VNS-sound pairing, the reversal of maladaptive plasticity is tested through behavioral discrimination ability, auditory brainstem responses (ABR), and auditory cortex responses. The successful development of adjuvant therapies to restore speech processing has real potential to yield tangible benefits for millions suffering from hearing loss.
分享
引用
