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Hearing & Auditory Perception
Hearing & Auditory Perception
Hearing & Auditory Perception
Understanding how the brain processes sound and how hearing loss affects cognitive functions, such as learning, can shed light on neurological changes that remain poorly understood.
Evidence suggests that hearing loss is associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline, and work is underway to determine how and why they are connected.
One study looked at differences in responses to soft and loud sounds in participants in their 20s compared to those in their 60s. They found that older adults had a harder time tuning out quieter or irrelevant sounds, making them more easily distracted or overwhelmed by sounds.
Researchers have also found that more familiar voices are easier to understand, even if people don't recognize the voice itself. The study showed that people focus on different parts of speech sounds, like pitch and resonance, for different reasons. The work could help individuals with hearing loss, who can have greater difficulty understanding speech in noisy settings.
BrainsCAN researchers also use an audio dome to understand how the brain processes sound. With 91 speakers, it provides an immersive experience that allows for a more real-world experience that supports research on social isolation and health outcomes that can be associated with hearing loss.