Department of Auditory Neuroscience
Laboratory of Auditory Physiology and Pathology
In the Laboratory of Auditory Physiology and Pathology, recordings of neuronal activity in individual auditory centers using multielectrodes have revealed the basic principles of the neuronal processing of simple tones as well as complex sounds such as artificially generated rippled noise or animal vocalizations. The development of the hearing organ during ontogeny and changes in the expression of calcium-binding proteins and other neuroactive substances are studied with immunostaining methods and confocal microscopy analysis. Behavioral conditioning tests associated with permanent or pharmacologically-induced reversible lesioning of cortical structures are used to study the lateralization of auditory functions in the rat auditory cortex.
Direction of frequency modulation discrimination (Spectral discrimination) was more deteriorated after right auditory cortex (AC) lesion, whereas discrimination of gap repetition rate in noise (Temporal discrimination) was significantly worsened following left AC inactivation.
Calbindin (green) and S100 protein (red) in the organ of Corti in mice at postnatal day 4.
Pathologies of the peripheral and central parts of the auditory system, appearing as a consequence of noise exposure or in conjunction with aging, are investigated in experimental animals and in human subjects. Among the methods used in the laboratory for this purpose are the recording of extracellular single neuron activity and auditory evoked responses, the assessment of hearing thresholds, measurements of psychoacoustic functions, the startle reaction, the recording of different types of otoacoustic emissions, as well as immunohistochemical and western blotting techniques used for evaluating changes in the expression of neuroactive proteins in the peripheral and central parts of the auditory system in experimental animals.Age-related changes of hearing function are investigated in special strains of rodents with accelerated aging (C57 mice or Fischer 344 rats). Special attention is given to the GABA inhibitory system in the central auditory pathway, since it is known that this system is vulnerable when animals are exposed to noise and during aging. Collaboration with ENT clinics is oriented towards investigations of hearing function in children and adolescents, the characterization of presbycusis and the genetic background of inherited deafness. Possible methods for the prevention or treatment of inner ear diseases by the application of biologically active drugs or genes to the cochlea are experimentally tested using nanoparticles as a targeted transporting tool.
