Can Music Enhance Working Memory and Speech in Noise Perception in Cochlear Implant Users? Design Protocol for a...

Area of Science:

• Auditory Neuroscience
• Neurorehabilitation
• Music Therapy

Background:

• Cochlear implants (CI) improve speech understanding but limit users in noisy environments.
• Music training enhances auditory-cognitive networks and auditory-motor coupling, benefiting speech perception.
• Neurologic music training (NMT) shows potential for improving speech-in-noise (SIN) in CI users.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of multi-modal NMT on SIN perception and working memory (WM) in adult CI users.
• To explore the neurophysiological correlates of NMT in CI users performing SIN and WM tasks.
• To provide insights for optimizing CI rehabilitation strategies.

Main Methods:

• 81 post-lingual adult CI recipients participated in a 4-week multi-modal NMT program.
• Participants were randomly assigned to pitch, rhythm, or timbre training groups.
• Electrophysiological recordings (SWIR-EEG) measured neural tracking and alpha oscillations pre- and post-training.

Main Results:

• Short-term multi-modal NMT is expected to enhance WM and SIN performance in CI recipients.
• Improvements are anticipated to be reflected in neural tracking and alpha oscillation modulations in prefrontal areas.
• This study aims to link cognitive function, SIN, and technical CI limitations.

Conclusions:

• Multi-modal NMT shows promise for improving SIN perception and cognitive function in CI users.
• Understanding neurophysiological changes can guide clinical rehabilitation strategies.
• NMT may significantly enhance quality of life for adult CI recipients.