Funding for Hearing Research and Chemical Oceanography

Further studies on the ultrastructure of the cochlea

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100159746 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 440-441

Author(s):

Zhixian Wang ◽

Pinjin Zhu ◽

Jianhe Sun ◽

Xuezheng Song

Keyword(s):

Hair Cells ◽

Military Medicine ◽

Outer Hair Cells ◽

Apical Surface ◽

Epithelial Surface ◽

Hearing Research ◽

New Findings ◽

Fine Structures ◽

Temporal Bones ◽

Accurate Observation

Hearing research is important not only for clinical, professional and military medicine, but also for toxicology, gerontology and genetics. Ultrastructure of the cochlea attracts much attention of electron microscopists, (1―3) but the research lags far behind that of the other parts of the organnism. On the basis of careful microdissection, technical improvment and accurate observation, we have got some new findings which have not been reported in the literature.We collected four cochleas from human corpses. Temporal bones dissected 1 h after death and cochleas perfused with fixatives 4 h after death were good enough in terms of preservation of fine structures. SEM:The apical surface of OHCs (Outer hair cells) and DTs (Deiters cells) is narrower than that of IPs (Inner pillar cells). The mosaic configuration of the reticular membrane is not typical. The stereocilia of IHCs (Inner hair cells) are not uniform and some kinocilia could be seen on the OHCs in adults. The epithelial surface of RM (Reissner’s membrane) is not smooth and no mesh could be seen on the mesothelial surface of RM. TEM.

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Effect of Speech-to-Noise Ratio and Luminance on a Range of Current and Potential Pupil Response Measures to Assess Listening Effort

Trends in Hearing ◽

10.1177/23312165211009351 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 25 ◽

pp. 233121652110093

Author(s):

Patrycja Książek ◽

Adriana A. Zekveld ◽

Dorothea Wendt ◽

Lorenz Fiedler ◽

Thomas Lunner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Time Course ◽

Principal Component ◽

Growth Curve Analysis ◽

Listening Effort ◽

Data Set ◽

Holistic View ◽

Hearing Research ◽

Speech In Noise ◽

Noise Test ◽

Noise Ratio

In hearing research, pupillometry is an established method of studying listening effort. The focus of this study was to evaluate several pupil measures extracted from the Task-Evoked Pupil Responses (TEPRs) in speech-in-noise test. A range of analysis approaches was applied to extract these pupil measures, namely (a) pupil peak dilation (PPD); (b) mean pupil dilation (MPD); (c) index of pupillary activity; (d) growth curve analysis (GCA); and (e) principal component analysis (PCA). The effect of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR; Data Set A: –20 dB, –10 dB, +5 dB SNR) and luminance (Data Set B: 0.1 cd/m2, 360 cd/m2) on the TEPRs were investigated. Data Sets A and B were recorded during a speech-in-noise test and included TEPRs from 33 and 27 normal-hearing native Dutch speakers, respectively. The main results were as follows: (a) A significant effect of SNR was revealed for all pupil measures extracted in the time domain (PPD, MPD, GCA, PCA); (b) Two time series analysis approaches (GCA, PCA) provided modeled temporal profiles of TEPRs (GCA); and time windows spanning subtasks performed in a speech-in-noise test (PCA); and (c) All pupil measures revealed a significant effect of luminance. In conclusion, multiple pupil measures showed similar effects of SNR, suggesting that effort may be reflected in multiple aspects of TEPR. Moreover, a direct analysis of the pupil time course seems to provide a more holistic view of TEPRs, yet further research is needed to understand and interpret its measures. Further research is also required to find pupil measures less sensitive to changes in luminance.

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