Seminars in Hearing Research at Purdue (SHRP)

Date: Thursday, November 16th, 2023
Time: 12pm - 1:00pm
Location: NLSN 1215

Title: Physiological and Perceptual Investigations of Place and Time Coding of Pitch Across Species: Preliminary Findings and Experimental Framework

Speaker: Andrew Sivaprakasam, MD/PhD Trainee, Purdue BME/Indiana University School of Medicine

Abstract: An elusive empirical neural explanation for pitch perception has inspired several cochlear place and time-dependent hypotheses. Most experts debate the importance of tonotopy versus temporal coding, but it is still unclear how disruptions of these mechanisms are influenced by sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). SNHL is complex, but as a diagnosis, it groups variable degrees of inner and outer hair cell (IHC/OHC) and cochlear synapse (CS) damage which likely results in different patterns of pitch perception. With careful stimulus design and electrophysiological data harmonization between animal and human subjects, we are developing a framework to more directly link alterations in neural coding to pitch perceptual outcomes. I will present progress related to my NRSA F30 project (Title: Place and Time Processing of Pitch in the Context of Cochlear Dysfunction), which was funded thanks to the fruitful discussions and feedback sparked by this seminar two years ago. Key progress so far includes data collection in several chinchillas and humans with normal hearing status, involving iteratively refined electrophysiological (EFR, ACC) and behavioral correlates (F0DL) of place and time coding.

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