Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2026
09:38
Quantitative Assessment of Cortical Auditory-tactile Processing in Children with Disabilities
Published on: January 29, 2014
10.8K
Long-Latency Auditory Evoked Potentials in Adults with Williams Syndrome
Jacqueline A Nascimento1, Liliane A F Silva1, Alessandra G Samelli1
1Department of Physical, Speech-Language-Hearing, and Occupational Therapy of the Medical School at the University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
|November 28, 2024
Summary
Adults with Williams syndrome (WS) exhibit altered auditory processing, showing delayed responses and attentional difficulties in auditory tasks. This study highlights central auditory system differences in WS patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Audiology
Background:
- Williams syndrome (WS) is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder associated with various auditory deficits.
- Previous research focused on peripheral hearing loss, with limited investigation into the central auditory system in WS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate long-latency auditory evoked potentials (LLAEPs) in adults with Williams syndrome.
- To compare LLAEPs in adults with WS to those in neurotypical individuals.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional observational study design was employed.
- Long-latency auditory evoked potentials (LLAEPs) were assessed using an oddball paradigm and tone-burst stimuli.
- The study included 15 adults with WS and 15 age- and sex-matched neurotypical controls.
Main Results:
- Individuals with WS demonstrated larger P1-N1 and P2-N2 amplitudes but smaller N2-P3 amplitudes in their LLAEPs.
- Delayed latencies across all LLAEP components were observed in the WS group compared to controls.
- These findings suggest altered neural processing of auditory information in adults with WS.
Conclusions:
- Adults with Williams syndrome show enhanced neuronal responses related to stimulus identification.
- Attentional difficulties in auditory tasks and slower auditory information processing speed are characteristic of WS.
- The study underscores the presence of central auditory processing deficits in Williams syndrome.
Related Concept Videos
01:35Long-term Potentiation
Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre- and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
01:05Long-term Depression
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
01:31Hearing
When we hear a sound, our nervous system is detecting sound waves—pressure waves of mechanical energy traveling through a medium. The frequency of the wave is perceived as pitch, while the amplitude is perceived as loudness.
01:25Long-term Potentiation
Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Hebbian LTP
LTP can occur when presynaptic neurons...
Hebbian LTP
LTP can occur when presynaptic neurons...
01:03Long-term Depression
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...
01:20Taste Buds and Receptors
Gustation, or the sense of taste, is intrinsically linked to the anatomical structures located on the tongue. This organ's surface, along with the entirety of the oral cavity, is adorned with stratified squamous epithelium. Evident on the tongue are elevated structures known as papillae (singular = papilla), which house the mechanisms for the transduction of gustatory stimuli. Four distinct types of papillae exist, each identified by their unique morphological attributes: the circumvallate,...