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Understanding the dynamics of cochlear amplification

Award Number: R00DC016906
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/01/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2024

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Understanding the dynamics of cochlear amplification - PROJECT SUMMARY The cochlea acts as a nonlinear amplifier that boosts mechanical sensitivity and frequency tuning at low but not high stimulus levels. Although cochlear responses to tones have been well studied, relatively little is known about the dynamic (i.e., time-varying) aspects of this amplification process, such as its delays and associated time constants. These characteristics of the amplifier are especially relevant for understanding details of how dynamic stimuli, such as speech, are encoded by the peripheral auditory system. The proposed research combines the complementary approaches of intracochlear vibrometry, otoacoustic emissions (OAEs), and theoretical modeling to study the dynamics of nonlinear cochlear amplification in animal models. The K99 mentored research will investigate the temporal dynamics and active micromechanics of the amplifier through in vivo vibratory measurements obtained at two locations within the organ of Corti, near the top and bottom surfaces of the outer hair cells—the cellular motors of the cochlear amplifier. Parallel measurements of OAEs will probe their ability to serve as noninvasive assays of the dynamical features of the amplification process. Mathematical models will help to understand the mechanisms of the cochlear amplification delay and its role in shaping OAEs. The R00 independent research will extend the K99-phase findings by further dissecting the mechanisms underlying the dynamical features of cochlear amplification through studies in animals with well- defined damage (acoustic trauma) or abnormality in cochlear structures (transgenic mice). These results are expected to have a high impact because they will be first to reveal the mechanisms underlying the dynamics of cochlear amplification. By relating the OAE results to the vibrometry data in the same animals, the work will establish the utility of OAEs as noninvasive assays of the dynamics of cochlear processing. In the broader context, these data will provide insights into contributions of peripheral processing to temporal phenomena of hearing that degrade with sensory hearing loss and thus will lay the necessary groundwork for developing intervention strategies aimed at restoring auditory processing in the realistic dynamic environments. The K99 phase of the proposed research will aid the candidate’s career development by introducing her to in vivo cochlear vibrometry and by expanding her limited training in mathematical modeling. Together with her extensive background in OAE measurements, these new skills will put the candidate in a strong position to work independently toward her long-term goals of advancing our understanding of cochlear mechanics and exploiting its manifestation in OAE signals to improve noninvasive tests of hearing. The University of Southern California is an outstanding environment for the K99 research because the institution has an active hearing neuroscience community, including the mentors, recognized experts in cochlear mechanics, and other faculty.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $247,510 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	5	11/2/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$222,758
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	5	5/7/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$24,752
														Subtotal = $247,510

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $247,510 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	4	1/12/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$24,752
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST	LOS ANGELES	CA	90089	LOS ANGELES	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	4	11/22/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$222,758
														Subtotal = $247,510

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $248,580 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3	LOS ANGELES	CA	90007	LOS ANGELES	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	11/23/2021	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$248,580
														Subtotal = $248,580

Grand Total All Awards = $743,600

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Understanding the dynamics of cochlear amplification

Award Number: R00DC016906

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/01/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2024

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