The association between subcortical and cortical fMRI and lifetime noise exposure in listeners with normal hearing thresholds

Rebecca S. Dewey*, Susan T. Francis, Hannah Guest, Garreth Prendergast, Rebecca E. Millman, Christopher J. Plack, Deborah A. Hall

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)
59 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In animal models, exposure to high noise levels can cause permanent damage to hair-cell synapses (cochlear synaptopathy) for high-threshold auditory nerve fibers without affecting sensitivity to quiet sounds. This has been confirmed in several mammalian species, but the hypothesis that lifetime noise exposure affects auditory function in humans with normal audiometric thresholds remains unconfirmed and current evidence from human electrophysiology is contradictory. Here we report the auditory brainstem response (ABR), and both transient (stimulus onset and offset) and sustained functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) responses throughout the human central auditory pathway across lifetime noise exposure. Healthy young individuals aged 25–40 years were recruited into high (n = 32) and low (n = 30) lifetime noise exposure groups, stratified for age, and balanced for audiometric threshold up to 16 kHz fMRI demonstrated robust broadband noise-related activity throughout the auditory pathway (cochlear nucleus, superior olivary complex, nucleus of the lateral lemniscus, inferior colliculus, medial geniculate body and auditory cortex). fMRI responses in the auditory pathway to broadband noise onset were significantly enhanced in the high noise exposure group relative to the low exposure group, differences in sustained fMRI responses did not reach significance, and no significant group differences were found in the click-evoked ABR. Exploratory analyses found no significant relationships between the neural responses and self-reported tinnitus or reduced sound-level tolerance (symptoms associated with synaptopathy). In summary, although a small effect, these fMRI results suggest that lifetime noise exposure may be associated with central hyperactivity in young adults with normal hearing thresholds.

Original languageEnglish
Article number116239
JournalNeuroImage
Volume204
Early online date3 Oct 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2020

Keywords

  • Auditory brainstem response
  • Auditory pathways
  • Functional magnetic resonance imaging
  • Noise induced hearing loss

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Cognitive Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The association between subcortical and cortical fMRI and lifetime noise exposure in listeners with normal hearing thresholds'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this