Article
Biology
Tanya Bojesen Lauridsen, Jakob Christensen-Dalsgaard
Summary: Acoustic communication is crucial for mate localization and selection in most anuran amphibians. However, true toads tend to lose parts of the middle ear apparatus, resulting in reduced sensitivity to high-frequency sounds. This study aims to investigate middle ear development in a toad species with well-known natural history and acoustic communication behavior. The findings suggest that middle ear development depends on the size of the toad rather than its age.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Junyou Wang, John R. Wible, Bin Guo, Sarah L. Shelley, Han Hu, Shundong Bi
Summary: This study reports a well-preserved skull and postcranium of the Middle Jurassic epoch (160 million years ago) haramiyidan Vilevolodon diplomylos, showing intact auditory ossicles. Comparing this fossil with other Mesozoic and extant mammals, the overlapping incudomallear articulation found in various groups of mammals is proposed to have evolved during the transition from dual to single function for the ossicles.
Article
Biology
Charlie Woodrow, Christian Pulver, Hojun Song, Fernando Montealegre-Z
Summary: This study examines the tonotopy of the tympana in the ensiferan orthopteran species Cyphoderris monstrosa. Using laser Doppler vibrometry, the researchers found that higher frequencies are received more distally in the tympana. This tonotopic mechanism is crucial in understanding the evolutionary history of ensiferan hearing.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Mona Mozaffari, Robert Nash, Abigail S. Tucker
Summary: The mammalian ear is comprised of three parts (the outer, middle, and inner ear) that work together to transmit sound waves into neuronal signals for perception. The outer ear canal, often overlooked in discussions on hearing, plays a crucial role in funneling sound waves to the eardrum and middle ear, and defects in its development can lead to hearing loss. Recent studies have shed light on the complex system of outer ear canal development and its implications for congenital ear canal anomalies.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ningning Lu, Bo Chen, Jiao Qing, Jinhong Lei, Tongliang Wang, Haitao Shi, Jichao Wang
Summary: This study explores the gene expression patterns of the hearing system in Trachemys scripta elegans by sequencing transcriptomes from six tissues. The study identifies hub genes related to the inner ear and tympanic membrane that are involved in development and signal transduction. Additionally, it identifies six differentially expressed genes in the GABAergic synapse pathway that may explain the differences in sexually dimorphic hearing sensitivity. Overall, this study provides a critical foundation for genetic research on auditory functions in turtles.
Article
Acoustics
Michael E. Smith, Alyssa W. Accomando, Victoria Bowman, Brandon M. Casper, Peter H. Dahl, A. Keith Jenkins, Sarah Kotecki, Arthur N. Popper
Summary: This study found that underwater explosion sounds have significant negative effects on the inner ear hair cells of Pacific mackerel, with the extent of damage varying with distance and location. Extrapolation to other species and conditions must be done cautiously, but the effects of explosive sounds should be considered in assessing environmental impacts of marine projects.
JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Acoustics
Milind N. Kunchur
Summary: This article reviews the specialized mechanisms and non-linear pathways in the human auditory system that are involved in the perception of physical sound. It explains that customary relationships between frequency, time, and phase do not straightforwardly apply to the hearing process. The article also highlights the impressive capabilities of the human auditory system, such as its high temporal resolution and sensitivity to minute variations in sound.
Review
Neurosciences
Nicole T. Jiam, Steven D. Rauch
Summary: Despite extensive efforts, there are currently no FDA-approved therapies for treating sensorineural hearing loss. This is due to various barriers including limited understanding of the causes at a cellular level, lack of accurate diagnostic methods, competition-focused industry dynamics, and a lack of infrastructure for development and regulatory approval. This article discusses these issues and proposes an inner ear therapeutics moon shot as a potential solution.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xuewen Wu, Li Zhang, Yihui Li, Wenjuan Zhang, Jianjun Wang, Cuiyun Cai, Xi Lin
Summary: Gene therapy via canalostomy approach in mouse model of JLNS2 effectively preserved auditory and vestibular functions by early restoration of inner ear morphology, prevention of degeneration of inner ear cells, and dose-dependent treatment efficacy. Highly efficient transduction is crucial for maintaining long-term therapeutic effects, and the delivery method holds promise for human inner ear gene therapy.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Derek S. Delaney, Lawrence J. Liew, Joey Lye, Marcus D. Atlas, Elaine Y. M. Wong
Summary: Despite progress in the development of therapeutics for hearing loss, drug delivery to the middle and inner ear remains challenging. Localized delivery and controlled release therapeutics are emerging as potential solutions, but invasive procedures limit continuous drug delivery. This review discusses the challenges in drug development for hearing disorders and explores novel drug delivery approaches, including hydrogel and nanotechnology-based therapeutics and device-mediated delivery methods.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Simonetta Monini, Chiara Filippi, Gerardo Salerno, Maurizio Barbara
Summary: This study aimed to verify the behavior of auditory threshold in a group of implantees with bilateral symmetric hearing loss of different severity grades. The study found a significant worsening of auditory threshold over time, as well as a deterioration in the bone conduction component in the implanted ear compared to the contralateral ear. Despite the worsened hearing, the beneficial gains in pure tone average and speech audiometry observed at the first activation remained constant at the follow-up, indicating the extended efficacy of this device for severe forms of sensorineural hearing loss.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Caroline Siebald, Philippe F. Y. Vincent, Riley T. Bottom, Shuohao Sun, Daniel O. J. Reijntjes, Marco Manca, Elisabeth Glowatzki, Ulrich Muller
Summary: This study reveals three molecularly defined subtypes of type I SGNs using single-cell RNA sequencing technology, but the extent to which they correspond to physiological subtypes is unclear. Using genetically marked SGN subtypes, the researchers found that Lypd1-CreERT2 expressing SGNs have a low SR and preferentially innervate the IHC modiolar side, while Calb2-CreERT2 expressing SGNs have a wider range of SRs and preferentially innervate the IHC pillar side.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology
Emanuele Perugia, Christopher J. Plack, Michael A. Stone
Summary: This study aimed to test the hypothesis that noise exposure causes a degradation in low-sound-level auditory processing in humans. Measurements on 40 participants showed that those with music experience performed better in auditory processing tasks.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Manar Magdy, Enas Elmowafy, Mona Elassal, Rania A. H. Ishak
Summary: This review focuses on the anatomy of the ear, barriers to effective delivery, and localized delivery methods. It specifically addresses middle and inner ear diseases and their targeted drug delivery systems, including the use of hydrogels and nanocarriers for local delivery to the middle ear.
JOURNAL OF DRUG DELIVERY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Li Zhang, Xiaohui Bai, Rongrong Wang, Lulu Xu, Jingyu Ma, Yue Xu, Zhiming Lu
Summary: Due to the limitations of the blood-labyrinth barrier and limited blood circulation in the inner ear, current treatments for hearing loss are mainly limited to medication, hearing devices, and surgery, lacking a noninvasive targeted drug-delivery system. With the development of new nanomaterials, nanodelivery systems offer potential effective methods for clinical treatment of hearing loss.