Frequency tuning curves of the dolphin's hearing: envelope-following response study

Simultaneous tone-tone masking in conjunction with the envelope-following response (EFR) recording was used to obtain tuning curves in dolphins (Turslops truncatus). The EFR was evoked by amplitude-modulated probes of various frequencies. A modulation rate of 600 Hz was found to fit the requirement to have a narrow spectrum and evoke EFR of large amplitude. Tuning curves were obtained within the frequency range from 11.2 to 110 kHz. The Q₁₀ values of the obtained tuning curves varied from 12–14 at the 11.2 kHz center frequency to 17–20 at the 64–90 kHz frequencies.Abbreviations ABR auditory brainstem response - EFR envelope following response - ERB equivalent rectangular bandwidth     

Acoustic response properties of single units in the torus semicircularis of the goldfish,Carassius auratus

Single units of the goldfish torus semicircularis (TS) were recorded in response to pure tones. Response areas (RA) were obtained by recording the number of spikes evoked by tones in a range of frequencies and levels within the units' dynamic range. RAs gave estimates of best sensitivity (BS), characteristic frequency (CF), most excitatory frequency at each level (BF), and Q_10dB. Peri-stimulus-time histograms (PSTH), interspike interval histograms (ISIH), and period histograms were obtained at various frequencies and levels to describe the units' temporal response patterns.The distribution of CF is nonuniform with modes at 155, 455, and 855 Hz. The distribution of the coefficient of synchronization to standard tones is also nonuniform, revealing a dichotomy between units with little or no phase-locking and those that phase-lock strongly. PSTHs for units without significant phase-locking vary widely and include patterns resembling those of the mammalian auditory brainstem. Compared with saccular afferents, torus units tend to have lower spontaneous rates, greater sensitivity, and sharper tuning. Unlike saccular afferents, BF is independent of level for most torus units. Some torus units are similar to saccular afferents while others reveal significant transformations of information between the periphery and the midbrain.Abbreviations BF best frequency - BS best sensitivity - CF characteristic frequency - ISIH inter-spike interval histogram - PSTH peri-stimulus-time histogram - RA response area - TS torus semicircularis     

ABR frequency tuning curves in dolphins

Tone-tone masking was used to determine auditory brain-stem response tuning curves in dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in a simultaneous-masking paradigm. The Q ₁₀ of the curves was as large as 16–19 in the frequency range 64–128 kHz. In the range 45–16 kHz, Q ₁₀ decreased proportionally to the frequency with the bandwidth of the curves being constant, about 3.5–4 kHz at the 10-dB level. Tuning curves below 45 kHz are supposed to reflect broad spectral bandwidth of the probe's effective part which is no longer than 0.5 ms, irrespective of actual probe duration. Tuning curves above 64 kHz are supposed to reflect the real frequency tuning of the dolphin's auditory system.Abbreviations ABR auditory brain stem response - AP action potential     

Frequency modulated sound pattern analysis in the lesser bulldog bat: the role of interactions between adjacent frequency elements of complex sounds

A stereotyped approach phase vocalization response of Noctilio albiventris to artificial echoes simulating a virtual approaching object was used to assess the ability of the bat to analyze and extract distance information from the artificial echoes. The performance of the bats depended on the temporal pattern of frequency change of the continuously sweeping frequency modulated (FM) component of the signals. When the bats were presented with a CF/FM signal containing a time-reversed upward FM sweep, they responded with approach phase behavior at a performance level that was significantly below that seen with a CF/FM signal containing a naturally structured downward FM sweep. When the FM sweep was divided into a series of brief pure tone steps, the extent to which the bats showed a difference in their capability to process upward versus downward FM sweeps depended on the difference in frequency between the pure tone steps. The bats effectively processed downward but not upward FM sweeps when the difference in frequency between pure tone frequency elements of the FM sweeps was from about 100–200 Hz, but they effectually processed both downward and upward FM sweeps when the tonal elements composing the FM sweeps were separated by more than about 200 Hz. This suggests that the ability of the bats to effectively process downward but not upward FM sweeps is based on local interactions between adjacent frequency elements of the complex sounds.Abbreviations CF constant frequency - FM frequency modulated     

Acoustic response properties of single neurons in the central posterior nucleus of the thalamus of the goldfish,Carassius auratus

Acoustic responses were recorded extracellularly from single neurons in the thalamic central posterior nucleus (CP). Spontaneous activity, best sensitivity, and sharpness of tuning (Q_10db) of CP neurons ranged from 0 to 36 spikes/s, -40 to 5 dB re: 1 dyne/cm², and 0.18 to 1.80, respectively. The distribution of characteristic frequency (CF) was nonuniform with a mode at 195 Hz. Temporal response patterns of CP neurons (N = 60) were categorized into three groups: phasic (25%), tonic chopper-like (22%), and tonic nonchopper-like (53%) on the basis of peri-stimulus time and inter-spike interval histograms. Most CP neurons (90%) did not phase-lock to tones, and none phase-locked strongly. The properties of CP neurons are similar to those of the midbrain torus semicircularis neurons in spontaneous rates, best sensitivities, nonuniform CF distributions, and in exhibiting level-independent best frequencies. Both CP and toral neurons show a diversity of response patterns resembling those found in the mammalian central auditory system. However, CP neurons have broader tuning and less phase-locking than toral neurons, suggesting different roles in auditory processing. While peripheral frequency analysis is enhanced at the midbrain level, the integration of frequency-selective channels in the thalamus may function in the processing of wideband spectra characteristic of natural sound sources.Abbreviations BF best frequency - BS best sensitivity - CF characteristic frequency - CP central posterior nucleus - ISIH inter-spike interval histogram - PSTH peri-stimulus-time histogram - RA response area     

Analysis of CLDN14 gene in deaf Moroccan patients with non-syndromic hearing loss

Mutations in the CLDN14 gene, encoding the tight junction claudin 14 protein has been reported to date in an autosomal recessive form of isolated hearing loss DFNB29. In order to identify the contribution of CLDN14 to inherited deafness in Moroccan population, we performed a genetic analysis of this gene in 80 Moroccan familial cases. Our results show the presence of 7 mutations: 6 being conservative and one leading to a missense mutation (C11T) which was found at heterozygous and homozygous states, with a general frequency of 6.87%. The pathogenicity of the resulting T4M substitution is under discussion.     

住院耳聋患者临床流行病学特征及疗效分析

目的:描述住院耳聋患者的临床流行病学特征及治疗效果。方法:采用描述流行病学方法,收集哈尔滨医科大学附属第二医院耳鼻喉科2010年1月-2012年12月收治的748例耳聋患者的临床资料进行统计学分析。结果:748例耳聋患者中,男性394例(52.67%),女性354例(47.33%),P=0.7391,不同年龄段性别构成无统计学差异;单耳发病占75.40%,双耳发病占24.60%,10岁以下及70岁以上的患者双侧耳聋较多;听力损失程度构成由高到低依次为:极重度199例(30.99%)、重度139例(21.65%)、中重度100例(15.58%)、轻度95例(14.80%)、中度80例(12.46%)及语频正常29例(4.52%),10岁以下较其他各年龄段发生极重度听力损失较多;伴发高血压者93例(12.43%)、糖尿病者56例(7.49%)、冠心病者48例(6.42%)、脑血管疾病者31例(4.14%);治愈145例(19.38%),好转547例(73.13%),未治愈45例(6.02%),总有效率为92.51%。结论:耳聋发病以突发性耳聋为主,年龄30-69岁居多,单侧耳聋较双侧耳聋发病多,而儿童双耳发病较多,年龄小、听力损失程度轻者预后较好,听力损失严重且预后较差。     

Study of modifiers factors associated to mitochondrial mutations in individuals with hearing impairment

Hearing impairment is the most prevalent sensorial deficit in the general population. Congenital deafness occurs in about 1 in 1000 live births, of which approximately 50% has hereditary cause in development countries. Non-syndromic deafness can be caused by mutations in both nuclear and mitochondrial genes. Mutations in mtDNA have been associated with aminoglycoside-induced and non-syndromic deafness in many families worldwide. However, the nuclear background influences the phenotypic expression of these pathogenic mutations. Indeed, it has been proposed that nuclear modifier genes modulate the phenotypic manifestation of the mitochondrial A1555G mutation in the MTRNR1 gene. The both putative nuclear modifiers genes TRMU and MTO1 encoding a highly conserved mitochondrial related to tRNA modification. It has been hypothesizes that human TRMU and also MTO1 nuclear genes may modulate the phenotypic manifestation of deafness-associated mitochondrial mutations. The aim of this work was to elucidate the contribution of mitochondrial mutations, nuclear modifier genes mutations and aminoglycoside exposure in the deafness phenotype. Our findings suggest that the genetic background of individuals may play an important role in the pathogenesis of deafness-associated with mitochondrial mutation and aminoglycoside-induced.