Investigating Hemodynamic Patterns During Beat Processing in Cochlear Implant Users: Insights from a Finger Tapping Study

Samantha Reina O'Connell ¹, Ali Rahimpour Jounghani ², Julianne Marie Papadopoulos ¹

⁰Caruso Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Auditory Perception & Cognition +

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September 11, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Cochlear implant users process musical beats similarly to those with normal hearing, but show broader brain activation. This suggests differences in neural processing and increased listening effort in cochlear implant users during auditory-motor tasks.

Area Of Science

Neuroscience
Auditory Perception
Human-Computer Interaction

Background

Cochlear implants (CIs) improve hearing but often impair music perception (melody, timbre).
Beat and rhythm processing in CI users is less understood compared to individuals with normal hearing (NH).
Investigating neural processing of auditory-motor synchronization in CI users is crucial for understanding music perception limitations.

Purpose Of The Study

To compare beat processing neural networks between cochlear implant users and normal hearing listeners.
To investigate if auditory-motor synchronization during rhythmic tasks elicits different brain activation patterns.
To explore the neural basis of potential music appreciation differences in CI users.

Main Methods

Adapted finger tapping tasks (synchronization, syncopation) with auditory pacing and continuation phases.
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to measure hemodynamic responses during tapping.
Comparison of tapping performance and brain activation between CI users and NH listeners.

Main Results

Both CI users and NH listeners performed similarly on tapping tasks, with syncopated continuation being challenging for both.
CI users demonstrated significantly more widespread hemodynamic activation across temporal, frontal, motor, and parietal regions compared to NH listeners.
Despite performance similarities, neural recruitment differed between the two groups during beat processing.

Conclusions

Cochlear implant users utilize auditory-motor networks for beat processing, comparable to NH listeners.
Widespread brain activation in CI users may stem from neural adaptation or increased listening effort.
Further research is needed to fully understand the neural mechanisms underlying music perception in CI users.

Keywords:

auditory-motor coupling beat processing cochlear implants fNIRS rhythm