Seminars in Hearing Research

Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026

Location: Nelson Hall, Room 1215

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Speaker:Megan Cunningham, AuD Student, Mondul Lab, SLHS

Title: Cochlear Histological Characterization in Aging Nonhuman Primates

Abstract: Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a common, progressive type of inner ear pathology associated with complex patterns of degeneration to the ascending and descending auditory pathways. While loss of cochlear inner and outer hair cells and primary afferents is common, changes to the lateral and medial olivocochlear (OC) efferent neurons remain understudied. The OC systems are thought to support hearing in complex listening environments – an ability that declines with age even in the absence of hearing loss. Studying the OC systems directly in humans is difficult, making animal models essential for understanding their structure and function. Nonhuman primates are a useful model for human inner ear pathologies, due to their comparable hearing ranges and phylogenetic proximity. The purpose of this study was to examine cochlear histology in aging marmosets and macaques by assessing hair cell survival, afferent synapse counts, and olivocochlear efferent innervation along the tonotopic axis.

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The working schedule is available here: https://purdue.edu/TPAN/hearing/shrp_schedule

The titles and abstracts of the talks will be added here: https://purdue.edu/TPAN/hearing/shrp_abstracts