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Updated: Apr 15, 2026
09:23
Auditory Brainstem Response and Outer Hair Cell Whole-cell Patch Clamp Recording in Postnatal Rats
Published on: May 24, 2018
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Continued maturation of auditory brainstem function during adolescence: A longitudinal approach
Jennifer Krizman1, Adam Tierney1, Ahren B Fitzroy1
1Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA(3); Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
Summary
Auditory brainstem development continues through adolescence, showing decreased spectral representation and response consistency. This suggests adolescence is a key transitional period for auditory processing maturation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
Background:
- Auditory system development is well-studied in early childhood but less understood during adolescence.
- Previous research on auditory maturation in late childhood primarily used cross-sectional designs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the longitudinal maturation of the subcortical auditory system during adolescence.
- To examine changes in speech syllable encoding from ages 14 to 17.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study tracking 74 adolescents over four time points (ages 14-17).
- Measurement of subcortical neural responses to speech syllables.
- Analysis of spectral representation, response consistency, and amplitude envelope tracking.
Main Results:
- A developmental decrease in spectral representation of speech syllables was observed.
- Trial-by-trial response consistency and amplitude envelope tracking also showed a decline.
- The timing of the evoked subcortical response remained stable across adolescence.
Conclusions:
- Subcortical auditory development is a prolonged process extending through the first two decades of life.
- Adolescence serves as a transitional phase, bridging childhood auditory responses to adult patterns.
- The auditory brainstem's continued maturation post-adolescence indicates potential benefits of later childhood auditory enrichment.
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