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Article
Lateral Superior Olive Function in Congenital Deafness
Hearing Research
  • Kiri Couchman
  • Andrew Garrett
  • Adam S. Deardorff, Wright State University
  • Frank Rattay
  • Susanne Resatz
  • Robert E.W. Fyffe, Wright State University
  • Bruce Walmsley
  • Richardson N. Leao
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-1-2011
Abstract

The development of cochlear ilmplants for the treatment of patients with profound hearing loss has advanced considerably in the last few decades, particularly in the field of speech comprehension. However, attempts to provide not only sound decoding but also spatial hearing are limited by our understanding of circuit adaptations in the absence of auditory input. Here we investigate the lateral superior olive (LSO), a nucleus involved in interaural level difference (ILD) processing in the auditory brainstem using a mouse model of congenital deafness (the dn/dn mouse). An electrophysiological investigation of principal neurons of the LSO from the dn/dn mouse reveals a higher than normal proportion of single spiking (SS) neurons, and an increase in the hyperpolarisation-activated Ih current. However, inhibitory glycinergic input to the LSO appears to develop normally both pre and postsynaptically indn/dn mice despite the absence of auditory nerve activity. In combination with previous electrophysiological findings from the dn/dn mouse, we also compile a simple Hodgkin and Huxley circuit model in order to investigate possible computational deficits in ILD processing resulting from congenital hearing loss. We find that the predominance of SS neurons in the dn/dn LSO may compensate for upstream modifications and help to maintain a functioning ILD circuit in the dn/dn mouse. This could have clinical repercussions on the development of stimulation paradigms for spatial hearing with cochlear implants.

DOI
10.1016/j.heares.2011.01.012
Citation Information
Kiri Couchman, Andrew Garrett, Adam S. Deardorff, Frank Rattay, et al.. "Lateral Superior Olive Function in Congenital Deafness" Hearing Research Vol. 277 Iss. 1-2 (2011) p. 163 - 175 ISSN: 0378-5955
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/robert_fyffe/55/