Hearing and dementia: from ears to brain

Brain, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 144(2), P. 391 - 401

Published: Nov. 18, 2020

The association between hearing impairment and dementia has emerged as a major public health challenge, with significant opportunities for earlier diagnosis, treatment prevention. However, the nature of this not been defined. We hear our brains, particularly within complex soundscapes everyday life: neurodegenerative pathologies target auditory brain, are therefore predicted to damage function early profoundly. Here we present evidence proposition, based on structural functional features brain organization that confer vulnerability neurodegeneration, extensive, reciprocal interplay 'peripheral' 'central' dysfunction, recently characterized signatures canonical dementias (Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body disease frontotemporal dementia). Moving beyond any simple dichotomy ear argue reappraisal role cognitive dysfunction critical coupling peripheral organs in dementias. call clinical assessment real-world these diseases moves pure tone perception development novel 'cognitive stress tests' proximity markers diagnosis management strategies harness retained plasticity.

Language: Английский

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Tonic and phasic transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) both evoke rapid and transient pupil dilation

Brain stimulation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 17(2), P. 233 - 244

Published: Feb. 28, 2024

BackgroundTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS or taVNS) is a non-invasive method of electrical the afferent pathway nerve, suggested to drive changes in putative physiological markers noradrenergic activity, including pupil dilation.ObjectiveHowever, it unknown whether different taVNS modes can map onto phasic and tonic activity. The effects on dilation humans are inconsistent, largely due differences protocols. Here, we attempted address these issues.MethodsWe investigated under (1 s) (30 taVNS, pre-registered, single-blind, sham-controlled, within-subject cross-over design, absence behavioural task.ResultsPhasic induced rapid increase size over baseline, significantly greater than sham stimulation, which rapidly declined after offset. Tonic similarly (and larger sham) returning baseline within 5 s, despite ongoing stimulation. Thus, both active closely resembled effect. There were no size, sustained size.ConclusionsThese results suggest that phasic- tonic-like standard parameters may modulate primarily mode as indexed by evoked dilation, above somatosensory effects. This result sheds light temporal profile with implications for their applicability further research.

Language: Английский

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Publication guidelines and recommendations for pupillary measurement in psychophysiological studies

Psychophysiology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 59(4)

Published: March 22, 2022

A variety of psychological and physical phenomena elicit variations in the diameter pupil eye. Changes size are mediated by relative activation sphincter pupillae muscle (decrease diameter) dilator (increase diameter), innervated parasympathetic sympathetic branches, respectively, autonomic nervous system. The current guidelines intended to inform guide psychophysiological research involving measurement (1) summarizing important aspects concerning physiology pupil, (2) providing methodological data-analytic recommendations, (3) briefly reviewing that modulate pupillary reactivity. Because increased ease tractability measurement, goal these is promote accurate recording, analysis, reporting data research.

Language: Английский

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An exploratory Study of EEG Alpha Oscillation and Pupil Dilation in Hearing-Aid Users During Effortful listening to Continuous Speech

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 15(7), P. e0235782 - e0235782

Published: July 10, 2020

Individuals with hearing loss allocate cognitive resources to comprehend noisy speech in everyday life scenarios. Such a scenario could be when they are exposed ongoing and need sustain their attention for rather long period of time, which requires listening effort. Two well-established physiological methods that have been found sensitive identify changes effort pupillometry electroencephalography (EEG). However, these measurements used mainly momentary, evoked or episodic The aim this study was investigate how sustained manifests EEG, using continuous varying signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Eight hearing-aid users participated exploratory performed speech-in-noise task. material consisted 30-second streams were presented from loudspeakers the right left side listener (±30° azimuth) presence 4-talker background noise (+180° azimuth). participants instructed attend either speaker ignore other randomized order two different SNR conditions: 0 dB -5 (the difference between target competing talker). effects on explored objectively EEG. results showed larger mean pupil dilation decreased EEG alpha power parietal lobe during more effortful condition. This demonstrates both measures speech.

Language: Английский

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Hearing Aid Noise Reduction Lowers the Sustained Listening Effort During Continuous Speech in Noise—A Combined Pupillometry and EEG Study

Ear and Hearing, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 42(6), P. 1590 - 1601

Published: May 4, 2021

The investigation of auditory cognitive processes recently moved from strictly controlled, trial-based paradigms toward the presentation continuous speech. This also allows listening effort on larger time scales (i.e., sustained effort). Here, we investigated modulation by a noise reduction algorithm as applied in hearing aids scenario with noisy directional mainly suppresses background.We recorded pupil size and EEG 22 participants loss who listened to audio news clips presence background multi-talker babble noise. We estimated how (off, on) signal-to-noise ratio (SNR; +3 dB, +8 dB) affect power parietal alpha band power) well behavioral performance.Our results show that reduces size, while there was no significant effect SNR. It is important note found interactions SNR reduction, which suggested predominantly under lower Parietal showed similar yet nonsignificant pattern, increased easier conditions. In line participants' reports one two presented talkers more intelligible, reduced power, better performance when people intelligible talker.We (e.g., aid reduction) indicated can be studied ecologically valid Mainly concluded demonstrate lowers effort. Our study approximates real-world scenarios evaluates benefit signal processing modern aid.

Language: Английский

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Exploring the Correlations Between Measures of Listening Effort in Adults and Children: A Systematic Review with Narrative Synthesis

Trends in Hearing, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 27

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Listening effort (LE) describes the cognitive resources needed to process an auditory message. Our understanding of this notion remains in its infancy, hindering our ability appreciate how it impacts individuals with hearing impairment effectively. Despite myriad proposed measurement tools, a validated method elusive. This is complicated by seeming lack association between tools demonstrated via correlational analyses. review aims systematically literature relating analyses different measures LE. Five databases were used– PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, PsychINFO, and CINAHL. The quality evidence was assessed using GRADE criteria risk bias ROBINS-I/GRADE tools. Each statistically significant analysis classified approved system for medical correlations. final included 48 papers, equating 274 analyses, which 99 reached statistical significance (36.1%). Within these results, most prevalent classifications poor or fair. Moreover, when moderate very strong correlations observed, they tended be dependent on experimental conditions. graded as low. These results show that LE are poorly correlated supports multi-dimensional concept may explained considering where each measure operates along perception pathway. fragility specific conditions further diminishes hope finding all-encompassing tool. Therefore, prudent focus capturing consequences rather than itself.

Language: Английский

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Eye Movements Decrease during Effortful Speech Listening

Journal of Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 43(32), P. 5856 - 5869

Published: July 25, 2023

Hearing impairment affects many older adults but is often diagnosed decades after speech comprehension in noisy situations has become effortful. Accurate assessment of listening effort may thus help diagnose hearing earlier. However, pupillometry-the most used approach to assess effort-has limitations that hinder its use practice. The current study explores a novel way through eye movements. Building on cognitive and neurophysiological work, we examine the hypothesis movements decrease when becomes challenging. In three experiments with human participants from both sexes, demonstrate, consistent this hypothesis, fixation duration increases spatial gaze dispersion decreases increasing masking. Eye decreased during effortful for different visual scenes (free viewing, object tracking) materials (simple sentences, naturalistic stories). contrast, pupillometry was less sensitive masking story listening, suggesting pupillometric measures not be as effective assessments speech-listening paradigms. Our results reveal critical link between load, neural activity brain regions support regulation movements, such frontal field superior colliculus, are modulated

Language: Английский

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Attention Mobilization as a Modulator of Listening Effort: Evidence From Pupillometry

Trends in Hearing, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 28

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Listening to speech in noise can require substantial mental effort, even among younger normal-hearing adults. The task-evoked pupil response (TEPR) has been shown track the increased effort exerted recognize words or sentences increasing noise. However, few studies have examined trajectory of listening across longer, more natural, stretches speech, extent which expectations about upcoming difficulty modulate TEPR. Seventeen adults listened 60-s-long audiobook passages, repeated three times a row, at two different signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) while size was recorded. There significant interaction between SNR, repetition, and baseline on sustained effort. At lower sizes, potentially reflecting attention mobilization, TEPRs were harder SNR condition, particularly when mobilization remained low by third presentation. intermediate differences conditions largely absent, suggesting these listeners had optimally mobilized their for both SNRs. Lastly, higher overmobilization attention, effect initially reversed second presentations: participants appeared disengage resulting reduced that recovered half story. Together, findings suggest unfolding over time depends critically individuals successfully anticipation difficult conditions.

Language: Английский

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Three New Outcome Measures That Tap Into Cognitive Processes Required for Real-Life Communication

Ear and Hearing, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 41(Supplement 1), P. 39S - 47S

Published: Oct. 23, 2020

To increase the ecological validity of outcomes from laboratory evaluations hearing and devices, it is desirable to introduce more realistic outcome measures in laboratory. This article presents discusses three that have been designed go beyond traditional speech-in-noise better reflect everyday challenges. The reviewed are: Sentence-final Word Identification Recall (SWIR) test working memory performance while listening speech noise at ceiling performance; a neural tracking method produces quantitative measure selective attention noise; pupillometry changes pupil dilation assess effort noise. According evaluation data, SWIR provides sensitive situations where perception might be unaffected. Similarly, has also shown sensitivity are insensitive. Changes capacity mobilization were found positive signal-to-noise ratios (SNR), is, SNRs situations. Using stimulus reconstruction, demonstrated robust determining what degree listener attending specific talker typical cocktail party situation. both established commercially available reduction schemes, data further all variation SNR. In summary, new seem suitable for testing devices under demanding conditions than tests.

Language: Английский

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Dimensions of self-reported listening effort and fatigue on a digits-in-noise task, and association with baseline pupil size and performance accuracy

International Journal of Audiology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 60(10), P. 762 - 772

Published: Dec. 15, 2020

Objective Pupillometry is sensitive to cognitive resource allocation and has been used as a potential measure of listening-related effort fatigue. We investigated associations between peak pupil diameter, pre-stimulus performance on listening task, the dimensionality self-reported outcomes (task-related fatigue).Design was recorded while participants performed speech-in-noise task. Participants rated their experience fatigue using NASA-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) Visual Analogue Scale Fatigue (VAS-F), respectively. The NASA-TLX VAS-F factor analysis.Study sample 82 with either normal hearing or aided impairment (age range: 55–85 years old, 43 male).Results Hierarchal linear regression analyses suggested that diameter predicts dimension fatigue, which we interpreted tiredness/drowsiness, task when controlling for level age: Larger associated less tiredness/drowsiness better performance.Conclusion Pre-stimulus index speech processing in challenging conditions. To our knowledge, this first investigation ratings

Language: Английский

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