Title: "Brain mechanisms of auditory object detection in listeners with various hearing configurations"
Speaker: Nour Alsabbagh, M.S. Audiology, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Iowa
Auditory grouping facilitates communication in noisy, multi-talker environments by binding acoustic features into coherent auditory objects. Listeners with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) often struggle to detect auditory objects, even when using hearing aids or cochlear implants. However, it remains unknown how auditory grouping is degraded in these populations and how neural mechanisms adapt under different listening configurations. This talk presents two studies examining cortical mechanisms of auditory grouping in listeners with SNHL. The first study investigated neural and behavioral responses to auditory object detection across different listening configurations. The second study explored brain correlates of auditory object saliency in cochlear implant users with bimodal stimulation. Both studies revealed that induced cortical oscillations play a key role in auditory grouping, highlighting the contribution of cognitive processes to auditory object detection. Clinically, the findings suggest the presence of biological markers of auditory grouping, a crucial function for communication in noisy settings.
The seminars take place every Friday from noon to 1 p.m. on Zoom.
Zoom link for online seminars (used throughout the semester): https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/97359327852?pwd=0HDya18oxt4Yg8FiBr4WAn0F5jnzMw.1
Meeting ID: 973 5932 7852 Passcode: 219629