Hello, kitty: Cats recognize their own names
Domestic cats are able to discriminate the content of human speech, including recognizing their names, based upon phonemic differences.... Read More...
auditory neuroscience
Listeners immerse themselves in audiobooks in very different ways
While listening to audiobooks with a captivating narrative, the inferior parietal lobe and visual cortex elicit individual meaning and flow of mental imagery.... Read More...
38 new genes involved in hearing loss identified
38 new genes have been implicated in hearing loss. One of the genes, SPNS2, has been linked to childhood deafness.... Read More...
Associating colors with vowels? Almost all of us do!
While only 1 in 25 people has synesthesia, a new study reports intuitions about 'sound colors' are shared by a greater percentage of people. Sound color perception is mainly driven by the vowels in language.... Read More...
People ‘hear’ flashes due to disinhibited flow of signals around the brain
The synesthesia effect of being able to 'hear' silent movements may depend upon disinhibition of signaling between the visual and auditory brain regions. The study found musicians are more likely to experience the 'visual ear' phenomena than those with no musical training.... Read More...
Why you lose hearing for a while after listening to loud sounds
Researchers suggest the tectorial membrane may play an important role in regulating hearing by storing calcium. This new information helps us understand why we may lose our hearing briefly after a loud concert.... Read More...
Music Captivates Listeners and Synchronizes Their Brainwaves
A listener's engagement decreases with repetition of music, but only for familiar music pieces. However, unfamiliar musical styles can sustain an audience's interest, in particular for individuals with some musical training.... Read More...
Brain Response to Mom’s Voice Differs in Kids with Autism
In children with autism, the sound of their mom's voice creates a weaker brain response than in their peers not on the autism spectrum, a new study reports.... Read More...
Signs of Memory Problems May Instead Be Symptoms of Hearing Loss
Researchers report signs of memory problems in old age may be a result of hearing loss and not a neurodegenerative disease.... Read More...
Difficulties with Audiovisual Processing Contributes to Childhood Dyslexia
A new neuroimaging study reveals tasks that require audiovisual processing are extremely difficult for children with dyslexia. The findings could lead to new tests that help identify the disorder before children fall behind their peers.... Read More...
The Sleeping Brain Remains Attentive to Its Environment
Researchers demonstrate our brains can track sounds within the environment as we sleep. The study suggests this ability could allow us to sleep in safety and wake at the correct moment. ... Read More...
Auditory Testing at Birth Could Identify Children at Risk of ASD
Researchers report a non-invasive hearing test given shortly after birth may help doctors identify children at risk of ASD. ... Read More...