The severity of developmental hearing loss does not determine the magnitude of synapse dysfunction

Authors

  • Todd M. Mowery Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, USA
  • Vibhakar C. Kotak Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, USA
  • Dan H. Sanes Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, USA

Abstract

The loss of auditory experience can disrupt synapse function, particularly when it occurs during development. However, the extent of hearing loss can vary from mild to profound, and the duration of hearing loss can vary from days to years. Here, we asked whether the dysfunction of central auditory synapses scales with the severity of hearing loss. The manipulations range from mild sound attenuation to complete deafferentation at the time of hearing onset. Synapse function is measured in central auditory structures from the cochlear nucleus to cortex. The core finding is that even a ~25 dB attenuation in sensation level produces a quantitatively similar change to synaptic currents and membrane properties, as compared to deafferentation. Therefore, profound changes to central processing may occur even when developmental hearing loss is mild, provided it occurs when sound is first transduced.

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Published

2013-12-15

How to Cite

Mowery, T. M., Kotak, V. C., & Sanes, D. H. (2013). The severity of developmental hearing loss does not determine the magnitude of synapse dysfunction. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Auditory and Audiological Research, 4, 101–112. Retrieved from https://proceedings.isaar.eu/index.php/isaarproc/article/view/2013-11

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Section

2013/2. Physiological correlates and modeling of auditory plasticity