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Developing and Testing Models of the Auditory System With and Without Hearing Loss

Award Number: R01DC010813
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: 04/01/2010
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2025

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Developing and Testing Models of the Auditory System With and Without Hearing Loss - The goal of this proposal is to establish a new model for masked detection and frequency resolution, applicable to listeners with normal hearing and hearing loss, based on realistic physiological response properties. We are developing a new, fundamental framework for neural representations of acoustic stimuli that can predict a wide range of psychoacoustic phenomena. This framework is focused on neural fluctuations of auditory-nerve (AN) fibers, rather than on energy, average rates, or phase-locking to temporal fine structure. Neural fluctuations (NFs) refer to the relatively slow changes over time in AN responses (i.e., changes with rates ranging from 10s to a few 100 Hz). Neural fluctuations in this frequency range are of interest because they strongly excite, or suppress, neurons in the auditory central nervous system. The NF model is based on known nonlinear properties of inner-hair-cell and AN responses, and thus has important implications for interpreting masking results in listeners with sensorineural hearing loss. A representation of masked sounds based on the NF model is an alternative to the commonly accepted excitation-pattern representation provided by the power spectrum model of masking. The NF model successfully describes basic masking thresholds, as well as many experimental paradigms for which the power-spectrum (or energy) model fails. The NF model is not limited to low frequencies, as are models based on phase-locking to temporal fine structure. Here, the NF framework will be applied not only to masking paradigms, but also to stimulus paradigms that focus on frequency resolution, such as discrimination of the fundamental frequency of harmonic complex tones, or detection of increments in profile-analysis stimuli. Current models for the representation of these stimuli rely on a conceptual peripheral filter bank with critical bandwidths, estimated from human masking results using the power spectrum model of masking. Critical bandwidths, assumed to limit the frequency resolution of the auditory representations of complex sounds, are not consistent with known physiology. In contrast, frequency resolution according to the NF model is grounded on physiologically realistic response properties of AN fibers and sensitivity to neural fluctuations observed in the midbrain. Finally, to explain perception based on NF cues across the entire range of audible sound levels, we will extend our AN model to include NF-driven feedback gain control, guided by the known physiology and anatomy of the medial olivocochlear efferent system. The studies proposed here include: i) computational modeling to predict human thresholds, including re-examination of classical datasets that can, and those that cannot, be explained by the power-spectrum model, ii) related physiological studies in the midbrain, where cells are strongly sensitive to fluctuating inputs, and iii) new psychophysical studies designed to challenge the NF model, in listeners with normal hearing and those with sensorineural hearing loss.


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: 2025 ( Subtotal = $422,671 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	910 GENESEE ST	ROCHESTER	NY	14611	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	15	4/23/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$42,265
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	910 GENESEE ST	ROCHESTER	NY	14611	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	15	11/4/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$380,406
														Subtotal = $422,671

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $422,671 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	910 GENESEE ST	ROCHESTER	NY	14611	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	14	5/2/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$42,265
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	910 GENESEE ST	ROCHESTER	NY	14611	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	14	11/15/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$380,406
														Subtotal = $422,671

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $353,680 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	13	11/1/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$380,406
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	13	1/13/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$42,265
2023	2020	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	910 GENESEE ST	ROCHESTER	NY	14611	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	002	10	3/13/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$68,991
														Subtotal = $353,680

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $422,671 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	12	4/22/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$42,265
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	12	11/17/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$380,406
														Subtotal = $422,671

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $430,321 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	11	11/6/2020	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$430,321
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	002	11	6/22/2021	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$74,850
2021	2020	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	10	6/22/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$74,850
														Subtotal = $430,321

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $327,250 )
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	10	1/17/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$32,725
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	10	11/19/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$294,525
														Subtotal = $327,250

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $327,250 )
2019	2019	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	9	11/16/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$327,250
														Subtotal = $327,250

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $327,250 )
2018	2018	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	8	4/4/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$32,725
2018	2018	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	500 JOSEPH C WILSON BLVD	ROCHESTER	NY	14627	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	8	11/22/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$294,525
														Subtotal = $327,250

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $326,631 )
2017	2017	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	601 ELMWOOD AVE	ROCHESTER	NY	14642	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	7	5/24/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$32,664
2017	2017	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	601 ELMWOOD AVE	ROCHESTER	NY	14642	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	7	11/4/2016	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$293,967
														Subtotal = $326,631

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $326,188 )
2016	2016	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14642	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	6	11/13/2015	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$326,188
														Subtotal = $326,188

Issue Date FY: 2015 ( Subtotal = $325,029 )
2015	2015	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14642	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	5	11/14/2014	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$295,481
2015	2015	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14642	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	5	1/13/2015	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$29,548
														Subtotal = $325,029

Issue Date FY: 2014 ( Subtotal = $328,313 )
2014	2014	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14642	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	4	11/22/2013	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$295,481
2014	2014	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14642	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	4	2/10/2014	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$32,832
														Subtotal = $328,313

Issue Date FY: 2013 ( Subtotal = $311,897 )
2013	2013	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14642	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	3	5/15/2013	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$16,416
2013	2013	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14642	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	3	10/26/2012	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$295,481
														Subtotal = $311,897

Issue Date FY: 2012 ( Subtotal = $328,313 )
2012	2012	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14642	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	001	2	1/26/2012	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$32,832
2012	2012	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14642	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	2	11/10/2011	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$295,481
														Subtotal = $328,313

Issue Date FY: 2011 ( Subtotal = $326,453 )
2011	2011	UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER	1325 MOUNT HOPE AVE, SUITE 260	ROCHESTER	NY	14642	MONROE	USA	Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders	000	1	11/1/2010	NEW	$326,453
														Subtotal = $326,453

Grand Total All Awards = $5,306,588

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Developing and Testing Models of the Auditory System With and Without Hearing Loss

Award Number: R01DC010813

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: 04/01/2010

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2025

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