The objective of the program is to gain increased understanding of the neutral mechanisms which underlie hearing through and integrated series of studies: 1) determination of the mechanical vibratory properties of the basilar and tectorial membranes in the cochlea, using laser interferometry; 2) analysis of the ways in which speech sounds are encoded in the discharges of auditory nerve fibers as revealed by microelectrode recordings; 3) development of a computer simulation model of the peripheral auditory system, including the micromechanical vibrations of the organ of Corti and the electromechanical and transmitter-release characteristics of the hair cells; 4) study of the function and structure of the cochlear nuclear complex by means of intracellular recording and labeling of neurons in vivo, intracellular analysis of membrane and synaptic physiology of cells in vitro, and biochemical and immunocytochemical studies of neurotransmitters; 5) microelectrode studies of binaural interaction in neurons of the superior olivary complex and inferior colliculus, with the aim of understanding the function of these structures in sound localization as well as their postnatal development in normal animals and in animals deprived of sound input to one ear or with unilateral cochlear lesions. Multidisciplinary methods are employed including, in addition to the techniques mentioned above, electron microscopy and reconstruction of neuronal processes by intracellular injection of horseradish peroxidase. Computers are used extensively in controlling auditory stimuli, in analysis of the temporal discharge characteristics of single neurons and in mathematical modeling. The experimental findings will contribute to basic understanding of the auditory system and may also prove useful in the clinical diagnosis and management of hearing disabilities.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Program Projects (P01)
Project #
5P01NS012732-11
Application #
3099405
Study Section
Communicative Disorders Review Committee (CDR)
Project Start
1978-09-01
Project End
1989-02-28
Budget Start
1986-03-01
Budget End
1987-02-28
Support Year
11
Fiscal Year
1986
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
Carney, L H; McDuffy, M J; Shekhter, I (1999) Frequency glides in the impulse responses of auditory-nerve fibers. J Acoust Soc Am 105:2384-91
Wu, Z; Chan, F H; Lam, F K et al. (1997) A time domain binaural model based on spatial feature extraction for the head-related transfer function. J Acoust Soc Am 102:2211-8
Cooper, N P; Rhode, W S (1995) Nonlinear mechanics at the apex of the guinea-pig cochlea. Hear Res 82:225-43
Rhode, W S; Cooper, N P (1993) Two-tone suppression and distortion production on the basilar membrane in the hook region of cat and guinea pig cochleae. Hear Res 66:31-45
Carney, L H (1993) A model for the responses of low-frequency auditory-nerve fibers in cat. J Acoust Soc Am 93:401-17
Cooper, N P; Rhode, W S (1992) Basilar membrane tonotopicity in the hook region of the cat cochlea. Hear Res 63:191-6
Cooper, N P; Rhode, W S (1992) Basilar membrane mechanics in the hook region of cat and guinea-pig cochleae: sharp tuning and nonlinearity in the absence of baseline position shifts. Hear Res 63:163-90
Smith, P H; Joris, P X; Carney, L H et al. (1991) Projections of physiologically characterized globular bushy cell axons from the cochlear nucleus of the cat. J Comp Neurol 304:387-407
Banks, M I; Sachs, M B (1991) Regularity analysis in a compartmental model of chopper units in the anteroventral cochlear nucleus. J Neurophysiol 65:606-29
Yin, T C; Chan, J C (1990) Interaural time sensitivity in medial superior olive of cat. J Neurophysiol 64:465-88

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