National Institutes of Health Contract
NIH-N01-DC-0-2109"Protective Effects of Patterned Electrical Stimulation
on the Deafened Auditory System"Principal Investigator: Associate Professor Robert K. Shepherd.
Co-Investigators/Research Staff: Professor Graeme Clark, Ms Maria Clarke, Dr Jeremy Crook, Ms Stephanie Epp, Dr James Fallon, Dr Patricia Hurley, Dr Phillip Marzella, Mr Rodney Millard, Ms Anne Serruto, Dr Jin Xu.
Consultants: Dr Perry F. Bartlett, Dr Dexter R.F. Irvine, Dr Edwin W. Rubel, Dr Peter M. Seligman.
The goal of this contract is to develop methods of protecting the remaining portions of the auditory system from degeneration after loss of hair cells and to improve its effectiveness in extracting information provided by auditory prostheses. We have taken a broad neurobiological approach to this goal in order to study both the short and long-term response of the auditory system to loss of hair cells and the subsequent introduction of afferent input via an auditory prosthesis. Our studies are divided into three major areas of investigation:
The neurophysiological and neuroanatomical response to prolonged electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve following a neonatal sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). This work is designed to provide insight into the protective effects of electrical stimulation on the auditory nerve (AN) in addition to investigating the plastic response of the central auditory system (CAS) to temporally challenging stimuli presented chronically to one or two sectors of the AN.
The neurophysiological and neuroanatomical response to the AN and CAS of deafened animals following prolonged intracochlear electrical stimulation in combination with neurotrophic support of the auditory nerve. This work is designed to investigate whether electrical stimulation and chronic administration of neurotrophins act in synergy to promote AN survival. This work will also provide insight into the role of neurotrophins in improving synaptic efficiency in the deafened auditory pathway.
The neurophysiological and neuroanatomical response to acute electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve following a neonatal SNHL. These studies are designed to provide insight into the acute response of the AN and CAS to intracochlear electrical stimulation in deafened animals with little prior auditory experience.
While these studies are designed to provide insight into the plastic response of the deaf auditory pathway to re-activation via an auditory prosthesis, a major objective of this work is to apply our findings to the clinical environment.
- First Quarterly Progress Report, September 30, 2000 - December 31, 2000.
- Second Quarterly Progress Report, January 1, 2001- March 31, 2001.
- Third Quarterly Progress Report, April 1, 2001 - June 30, 2001.
- Fourth Quarterly Progress Report, July 1, 2001 - September 30, 2001.
- Fifth Quarterly Progress Report, October 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001.
- Sixth Quarterly Progress Report, January 1, 2002 - March 31, 2002.
- Seventh Quarterly Progress Report, April 1, 2002 - June 30, 2002.
- Eighth Quarterly Progress Report, July 1, 2002 - September 30, 2002.
- Ninth Quarterly Progress Report, October 1, 2002 - December 30, 2002.
- Tenth Quarterly Progress Report, January 1, 2003 - March 31, 2003.
- Eleventh Quarterly Progress Report, April 1, 2003 - June 30, 2003.
- Final Report, October 1, 2000 - September 30, 2003.
Contact: r.shepherd@unimelb.edu.au