Older mice were less capable than younger mice at "turning off" certain actively firing neurons when exposed to ambient noise. The result causes a fuzzy soundscape that makes it difficult for the brain to focus on one type of sound and filter out other surrounding sounds.
Researchers say up to 1 billion teens and young adults are at risk of hearing loss as a result of using headphones, earbuds, or attending loud music venues.
For the first time, researchers have captured in near-atomic detail the structure of a key part of the inner ear responsible for hearing. The results could pave the way for developing new treatments for those with hearing impairments.
A new study casts old theories about hearing into doubt. Researchers found many cells in the inner ear react simultaneously to low-frequency sounds. This makes it easier for us to hear low-frequency sounds as the brain is able to receive input from many sensory cells at the same time.
Older adults may have better listening skills in busy social settings than previously believed, researchers say.
Researchers have identified a master gene that programs ear hair cells into either inner or outer cells. The discovery could lead to new treatments to restore hearing loss associated with aging, noise exposure, or as an adverse reaction to medical therapies.
As potential threats approach, rattlesnakes increase the rate of rattling. The switch to a high-frequency mode makes people think the snake is closer to them than it actually is.
Study points to the evolutionary and developmental similarities between sensory cells in the inner ear and skin.
Listening to music on headphones or earbuds at 50% volume for an hour a day can have a detrimental impact on a young person's auditory health, a new study reports.
Researchers have identified several novel functional mechanisms related to the inner hair cells of the ear. The findings may upend numerous longstanding theories about the working anatomical organization and workings of the ear, as well as provide new avenues for the development of technologies to improve hearing.
An experimental twist on a classic cochlear implant allows researchers to directly measure brain waves and assess how good, or bad, a person's hearing is.
A new vestibular implant can significantly reduce dizziness, restore balance, and improve the quality of life for people with bilateral vestibular hypofunction (BVH).