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Auditory cross-modal reorganization in cochlear implant users indicates audio-visual integration.
Maren Stropahl1, Stefan Debener1,2
1Neuropsychology Lab, Department of Psychology, European Medical School, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Germany.
Neuroimage. Clinical
|October 4, 2017
Summary
Cortical reorganization in the auditory system occurs with hearing loss and cochlear implants (CI). This cross-modal plasticity may benefit audio-visual integration and communication skills, even with mild hearing impairment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Sensory Plasticity
Background:
- Cross-modal cortical reorganization is evident in the auditory system of post-lingually deafened cochlear implant (CI) users.
- The extent to which these changes are due to sensory deprivation or recovery remains debated.
- The impact of cross-modal reorganization on CI benefits, including potential impediments to speech recovery and benefits for visual processing, is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cortical reorganization in experienced post-lingually deafened CI users, hearing-impaired individuals, and normal-hearing controls.
- To examine cross-modal activation of the auditory cortex in response to visual stimuli (faces) using EEG source localization.
- To assess audio-visual integration skills using the McGurk illusion and explore its relationship with cross-modal reorganization.
Main Methods:
- Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to measure cortical activity in three groups: CI users (n=18), hearing-impaired individuals (n=18), and normal-hearing controls (n=17).
- EEG source localization was employed to identify cross-modal activation of the auditory cortex by visual stimuli (human faces).
- The McGurk illusion was used to quantify audio-visual integration abilities.
Main Results:
- CI users exhibited significantly stronger cross-modal auditory cortex activations compared to normal-hearing controls.
- A positive correlation was found between cross-modal activation and audio-visual integration strength in CI users.
- Hearing-impaired individuals showed intermediate results, with a moderate relationship between cross-modal activation and the degree of hearing loss, suggesting early-stage auditory deprivation effects.
Conclusions:
- Cross-modal cortical reorganization is present in CI users and is associated with enhanced audio-visual integration.
- These findings suggest that cross-modal plasticity may contribute to improved communication skills in CI users.
- Auditory deprivation, even at mild to moderate levels, can induce cortical reorganization in the auditory system.
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