All articles tagged with #hearing
New research shows hormones shape how we hear, with men showing earlier, gradual decline and women experiencing monthly auditory fluctuations and menopause-related changes; the study calls for sex- and hormone-aware, holistic research approaches to improve accurate diagnoses and personalized hearing care.
Researchers show that after damaging noise exposure, the brainstem’s superior paraolivary nucleus rapidly re-tunes within 24 hours to restore precise sound-offset signals, compensating for reduced hearing by increasing neuronal excitability and strengthening inhibitory inputs. This fast, circuit-specific adaptation preserves the timing of sound endings even as overall sensitivity declines, highlighting the brain’s resilience and offering potential directions for therapies addressing noise-related hearing loss.
A Shanghai Jiao Tong University study shows that closing the eyes actually impairs detecting sounds in noisy settings, while watching a related video improves auditory detection by about 3 dB. EEG data suggest eye closure triggers inward focus and overfiltering of sounds, whereas visual input helps anchor the auditory system to the external world, with implications for hearing aids and real-life listening.
A study with 25 volunteers found that keeping eyes open and viewing related visuals enhances hearing in noisy environments, while closing eyes makes it harder to detect sounds. EEG data showed eye closure increases suppression of background noise, whereas visual input—especially videos—helps anchor auditory perception. Participants were tested under four visual conditions (eyes closed, blank screen, still image, video) with several target sounds in 70 dB noise, revealing progressively better detection with more engaging visuals. The work, published in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, suggests visual engagement can improve auditory sensitivity even in noisy settings.
A live Capitol Hill briefing centers on Tulsi Gabbard’s tenure as director of national intelligence, with Joe Kent’s resignation fueling questions about her influence and a forthcoming Senate Intelligence hearing that may revisit her Iran policy stance. The package also notes related briefings on FISA’s 702 reauthorization, Mullin’s nomination to lead Homeland Security, and the Epstein probe, while a separate update reports Elizabeth Warren’s endorsement of Mallory McMorrow in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, signaling continued intra-party alignment among progressives.
The Senate Intelligence Committee will hear from top U.S. intelligence officials amid growing questions about the Iran war and its justification, as resignations and public criticisms emerge. One aide, Joe Kent, quit, alleging that U.S. actions were pressured by Israel and lobbying efforts, while Tulsi Gabbard publicly defended the administration’s view of an imminent threat. An earlier 2025 intelligence assessment suggested Iran was not building a nuclear weapon, complicating the public narrative as allies grow reluctant to engage and lawmakers seek accountability on the war’s endgame.
Netflix dropped its bid for Warner Bros., removing a trigger for a Senate antitrust hearing on Paramount’s bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. Senate Judiciary antitrust chair Mike Lee gave no clear indication of whether a hearing will be held, while Democrat Cory Booker urged Paramount CEO David Ellison to testify next week.
Researchers found that the sound-processing proteins TMC1 and TMC2 also function as lipid scramblases that flip phospholipids across hair-cell membranes. When this scrambling goes awry due to genetics, noise, or certain antibiotics, phosphatidylserine is exposed on the cell surface, triggering apoptosis of hair cells and leading to permanent hearing loss since these cells do not regenerate. Cholesterol levels in the membrane modulate this activity, suggesting potential dietary or pharmacological protection, and highlighting the possibility of designing antibiotics that avoid triggering the death signal. Findings will be presented at the 70th Biophysical Society Annual Meeting in 2026.
CT scans and 3D simulations of the 250‑million‑year‑old cynodont Thrinaxodon liorhinus indicate ear structures capable of tympanic (ear‑based) hearing emerged earlier than previously thought, suggesting the mammalian middle ear began evolving before dinosaurs; the model estimates a hearing range of about 38–1,243 Hz with peak sensitivity near 1,000 Hz at ~28 dB, aiding prey detection and predator avoidance.
At the House Judiciary hearing, Chair Jim Jordan framed former special counsel Jack Smith as leading a politically driven pursuit of Trump, naming officials such as Fani Willis and James Comey and even referring a deputy to the DOJ; Smith defended his investigations as nonpartisan, while Democrats like Jamie Raskin argued he did his job; Trump blasted Smith on Truth Social during the proceedings, calling him 'decimated,' and several Capitol Police officers who defended the Capitol attended the hearing as observers as GOP-led funding talks continued nearby.
Research indicates that a person's ability to understand speech in noisy settings is more linked to cognitive ability than to hearing loss, with higher IQ correlating with better listening skills across diverse groups, including neurodivergent individuals.
Dr. A. James Hudspeth, a renowned neuroscientist who elucidated how hair cells in the inner ear convert sound vibrations into electrical signals for the brain, passed away at 79 due to glioblastoma. His pioneering work significantly advanced understanding of auditory processes and potential treatments for hearing loss.
A new study suggests that tapping at a rate of 1.5-2 times per second before listening to speech in noisy environments can help improve comprehension, offering a simple trick to better hear conversations in loud settings.
A new study suggests that tapping your finger at a moderate pace of about two times per second can improve speech understanding in noisy environments by aligning brain timing with speech rhythms, especially when combined with vocalization, though further research is needed to confirm these effects in diverse populations.
A large international study confirmed that individuals vary significantly in their ability to detect background sounds, influenced by preceding noise, with potential implications for hearing diagnostics and therapies.