Auditory decision-making deficits after permanent noise-induced hearing loss

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Auditory Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

• Loud noise exposure is a primary cause of permanent hearing loss.
• Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) leads to speech comprehension and cognitive deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate cognitive processes in auditory perceptual decision-making affected by NIHL.
• Assess how NIHL impacts sensory, cognitive, and motor functions in decision-making.

Main Methods:

• Gerbils trained on an auditory decision-making task discriminating amplitude-modulated (AM) noise rates.
• Performance assessed pre- and post-NIHL (2h, 120 dB SPL broadband noise).
• Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) measured to confirm NIHL and threshold shifts.

Main Results:

• NIHL significantly diminished perceptual acuity and attentional focus.
• Noise exposure altered choice bias and slowed evidence accumulation during decision-making.
• NIHL impacted sensory-guided, decision-based motor execution.

Conclusions:

• NIHL impairs multiple facets of auditory perception and decision-making.
• Findings highlight the broad impact of hearing loss on cognitive and motor behaviors.
• NIHL affects sensory processing, cognitive functions, and motor control in auditory tasks.