Auditory Stimulation Research Articles

The promise of portable remote auditory stimulation tools to enhance slow-wave sleep and prevent cognitive decline.

Dementia is the seventh leading cause of mortality, and a major source of disability and dependency in older individuals globally. Cognitive decline (and, to a lesser extent, normal ageing) are associated with sleep fragmentation and loss of slow-wave sleep. Evidence suggests a bidirectional causal link between these losses. Phase-locked auditory stimulation has emerged as a promising non-invasive tool to enhance slow-wave sleep, potentially ameliorating cognitive decline. In laboratory settings, auditory stimulation is usually supervised by trained experts. Different algorithms (simple amplitude thresholds, topographic correlation, sine-wave fitting, phase-locked loop, and phase vocoder) are used to precisely target auditory stimulation to a desired phase of the slow wave. While all algorithms work well in younger adults, the altered sleep physiology of older adults and particularly those with neurodegenerative disorders requires a tailored approach that can adapt to older adults' fragmented sleep and reduced amplitudes of slow waves. Moreover, older adults might require a continuous intervention that is not feasible in laboratory settings. Recently, several auditory stimulation-capable portable devices ('Dreem®', 'SmartSleep®' and 'SleepLoop®') have been developed. We discuss these three devices regarding their potential as tools for science, and as clinical remote-intervention tools to combat cognitive decline. Currently, SleepLoop® shows the most promise for scientific research in older adults due to high transparency and customizability but is not commercially available. Studies evaluating down-stream effects on cognitive abilities, especially in patient populations, are required before a portable auditory stimulation device can be recommended as a clinical preventative remote-intervention tool.

Using Mental Shadowing Tasks to Improve the Sound-Evoked Potential of EEG in the Design of an Auditory Brain–Computer Interface

This study proposed an auditory stimulation protocol based on Shadowing Tasks to improve the sound-evoked potential in an EEG and the efficiency of an auditory brain–computer interface system. We use stories as auditory stimulation to enhance users’ motivation and presented the sound stimuli via headphones to enable the user to concentrate better on the keywords in the stories. The protocol presents target stimuli with an oddball P300 paradigm. To decline mental workload, we shift the usual Shadowing Tasks paradigm: Instead of loudly repeating the auditory target stimuli, we ask subjects to echo the target stimuli mentally as it occurs. Twenty-four healthy participants, not one of whom underwent a BCI use or training phase before the experimental procedure, ran twenty trials each. We analyzed the effect of the auditory stimulation based on the Shadowing Tasks theory with the performance of the auditory BCI system. We also evaluated the judgment effectiveness of the three ERPs components (N2P3, P300, and N200) from five chosen electrodes. The best average accuracy of post-analysis was 78.96%. Using component N2P3 to distinguish between target and non-target can improve the efficiency of the auditory BCI system and give it good practicality. We intend to persist in this study and involve the protocol in an aBCI-based home care system (HCS) for target patients to provide daily assistance.

The role of early functional neuroimaging in predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes in neonatal encephalopathy

Reliably assessing the early neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants with neonatal encephalopathy (NE) is of utmost importance to advise parents and implement early and personalized interventions. We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of neuroimaging modalities, including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes in NE. Eighteen newborns with NE due to presumed perinatal asphyxia (PA) were included in the study, 16 of whom underwent therapeutic hypothermia. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and fMRI during passive visual, auditory, and sensorimotor stimulation were acquired between the 10th and 14th day of age. Clinical follow-up protocol included visual and auditory evoked potentials and a detailed neurodevelopmental evaluation at 12 and 18 months of age. Infants were divided according to sensory and neurodevelopmental outcome: severe, moderate disability, or normal. Structural MRI findings were the best predictor of severe disability with an AUC close to 1.0. There were no good predictors to discriminate between moderate disability versus normal outcome. Nevertheless, structural MRI measures showed a significant correlation with the scores of neurodevelopmental assessments. During sensorimotor stimulation, the fMRI signal in the right hemisphere had an AUC of 0.9 to predict absence of cerebral palsy (CP). fMRI measures during auditory and visual stimulation did not predict sensorineural hearing loss or cerebral visual impairment.Conclusion: In addition to structural MRI, fMRI with sensorimotor stimulation may open the gate to improve the knowledge of neurodevelopmental/motor prognosis if proven in a larger cohort of newborns with NE.What is Known:• Establishing an early, accurate neurodevelopmental prognosis in neonatal encephalopathy remains challenging.• Although structural MRI has a central role in neonatal encephalopathy, advanced MRI modalities are gradually being explored to optimize neurodevelopmental outcome knowledge.What is New:• Newborns who later developed cerebral palsy had a trend towards lower fMRI measures in the right sensorimotor area during sensorimotor stimulation.• These preliminary fMRI results may improve future early delineation of motor prognosis in neonatal encephalopathy.

Unfolding a sequence of sensory influences and interactions in the development of functional brain laterality.

Evidence of sensory experience influencing the development of lateralized brain and behavior is reviewed. The epigenetic role of light exposure during two specific stages of embryonic development of precocial avian species is a particular focus of the research discussed. Two specific periods of light sensitivity (in early versus late incubation), each depending on different subcellular and cellular processes, affect lateralized behavior after hatching. Auditory and olfactory stimulation during embryonic development is also discussed with consideration of interactions with light-generated visual lateralization.

Auditory or Audiovisual Stimulation Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment and Neuropathology in ApoE4 Knock-In Mice.

We hypothesized that auditory stimulation could reduce the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and that audiovisual stimulation could have additional effects through multisensory integration. We exposed 12 month old Apoetm1.1(APOE*4)Adiuj mice (a mouse model of sporadic AD) to auditory (A) or audiovisual stimulation (AV) at 40 Hz for 14 days in a soundproof chamber system (no stimulation, N). Behavioral tests were performed before and after each session, and their brain tissues were assessed for amyloid-beta expression and apoptotic cell death, after 14 days. Furthermore, brain levels of acetylcholine and apoptosis-related proteins were analyzed. In the Y-maze test, the percentage relative alternation was significantly higher in group A than in group N mice. Amyloid-beta and TUNEL positivity in the hippocampal CA3 region was significantly lower in group A and group AV mice than in group N mice (p < 0.05). Acetylcholine levels were significantly higher in group A and group AV mice than in group N mice (p < 0.05). Compared to group N mice, expression of the proapoptotic proteins Bax and caspase-3 was lower in group A, and expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 was higher in group AV. In a mouse model of early-stage sporadic AD, auditory or audiovisual stimulation improved cognitive performance and neuropathology.

Hybrid Brain–Computer Interface System Using Auditory Stimulation and Speech Imagination Paradigms for Assistive Technology

In the case of paralysis with visual and tactile impairments, brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) based on auditory and mental imagery paradigms are alternative methods for controlling external devices. This study demonstrates the use of a hybrid BCI via auditory stimulation and speech imagination for assistive technology. The proposed auditory BCI using Thai vowel and numeral stimulus patterns as well as multi-loudspeaker position settings for multi-command BCI are investigated. To avoid auditory stimulation during resting periods, a speech imagery method is used to enable an audio stimulator. We observe the classification efficiency of speech imagery and auditory BCIs from selected electroencephalogram channels using the proposed algorithms. We examine the efficiency of using the proposed BCI in the presence of background noise (speech). One command is created using the proposed speech-imagination paradigm. Four commands are created using the proposed auditory stimulation paradigm. We design an experiment to verify the proposed BCI paradigm and classification algorithms for real-time processing. The results show that the average classification accuracy of the proposed auditory BCI using numeral stimuli and scatter patterns without speech noise is 72.2% to 83.3%, respectively. The efficiency under background noise is approximately two times lower than that without background noise.

Clinical Feasibility and Familiarization Effects of Device Delay Mismatch Compensation in Bimodal CI/HA Users.

Subjects utilizing a cochlear implant (CI) in one ear and a hearing aid (HA) on the contralateral ear suffer from mismatches in stimulation timing due to different processing latencies of both devices. This device delay mismatch leads to a temporal mismatch in auditory nerve stimulation. Compensating for this auditory nerve stimulation mismatch by compensating for the device delay mismatch can significantly improve sound source localization accuracy. One CI manufacturer has already implemented the possibility of mismatch compensation in its current fitting software. This study investigated if this fitting parameter can be readily used in clinical settings and determined the effects of familiarization to a compensated device delay mismatch over a period of 3-4 weeks. Sound localization accuracy and speech understanding in noise were measured in eleven bimodal CI/HA users, with and without a compensation of the device delay mismatch. The results showed that sound localization bias improved to 0°, implying that the localization bias towards the CI was eliminated when the device delay mismatch was compensated. The RMS error was improved by 18% with this improvement not reaching statistical significance. The effects were acute and did not further improve after 3 weeks of familiarization. For the speech tests, spatial release from masking did not improve with a compensated mismatch. The results show that this fitting parameter can be readily used by clinicians to improve sound localization ability in bimodal users. Further, our findings suggest that subjects with poor sound localization ability benefit the most from the device delay mismatch compensation.

Change of brainstem auditory-evoked potential in vertebrobasilar transient ischemic attack patients

Background: Transient ischemic attack describes the symptoms of the nervous system which occurs due to insufficient circulation that lasts for &lt;24 h. Its clinical manifestations tend to disappear quickly and it is also considered as an indicator of stroke. Brainstem auditory-evoked potentials are responses of the brainstem by auditory stimulation. Vertebrobasilar (VB) transient ischemia can cause brainstem ischemia which can induce BAEP changes. Hence, it becomes necessary to evaluate the electrophysiological changes in VB transient ischemic attack (VBTIA) patients so that early detection of neuronal changes and prevention of full-blown stroke. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the changes in brainstem auditory-evoked potential in VB TIA patients with normal subject. Materials and Methods: Auditory-evoked potential was recorded in 40 patients with VBTIA and 40 normal control groups. This study was conducted at the Research Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Thanjavur Medical College, Thanjavur. Results: The absolute latency of wave V was prolonged and a reduction in amplitude of wave V was observed in patients with VBTIA and it was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: This study is very much useful to identify the early detection of the progression of stroke in VB TIA patients. Further studies are required to evaluate the correlation between the electrophysiological parameters and progression into stroke so that preventive measures can be used to prevent early involvement of Stroke.

Effect of Boron on Sympathetic Skin Response in Rats.

Boron effects on reproduction and growth have been extensively studied in animals. Electrodermal activity (EDA) reflects the activity of eccrine sweat glands stimulated by the release of acetylcholine from sympathetic nerves. In the presen study, it was aimed to examine the effect of boron, which was turned into cream, on sweat glands. A cream form mixed with thyme oil was prepared for EDA recording. Our groups were formed as EDA recording gel (Group 1), cream with thyme oil (Group 2), cream containing 10% boron (Group 3) and cream containing 30% boron (Group 4). In each group, 3 months old, 10 male rats were used, and creams were applied to the soles of the hind extremities of the rats, EDA was recorded from this region after half an hour, and skin conductivity levels (SCL) were recorded as tonic (at rest) and phasic (with auditory sound stimulation). EDA results recorded in the morning were analysed with tonic and phasic recordings. In the morning SCL measurements, tonic SCL value of Group 4 was higher than the other groups (P < 0.001). Although the phasic SCL value was measured, it was significantly higher in Group 4 than in all groups (P < 0.0s). EDA measurements showed that boron increased sweat gland activity by increasing sympathetic nerve activity.

Effect of overground gait training with rhythmic auditory stimulation on lower limb motor coordination and activities of daily living in stroke survivors: A cross-sectional study

Effect of overground gait training with rhythmic auditory stimulation on lower limb motor coordination and activities of daily living in stroke survivors: A cross-sectional study

Who Are You To Judge? Investigating Narcissism through Pupil Dilation at Witness Testimonials

Various literature has explored narcissistic behaviour and its distinct emotional and aggressive nature. However, there is a significant gap in research when exploring the physiological differences of individual classified as having high narcissistic traits and tendencies. Pupillometry is a measure often utilised to measure distinct differences in emotional arousal. This measure allows for excellent insight into physiological responses to various stimuli presented. This exploratory study was set up to investigate pupillometry responses to auditory stimulation in narcissistic versus control participants. Findings were consistent with previous research; however, various limitations hindered significant findings. This pilot study is a guideline for future research as it is a first attempt at exploring a physiological relationship between emotionality and narcissism in the context of a criminal hearing.

Mental Stress Management Using fNIRS Directed Connectivity and Audio Stimulation.

In this study, we propose a method to enhance cognitive vigilance and mitigate mental stress in the workplace. We designed an experiment to induce stress by putting participants through Stroop Color-Word Task (SCWT) under time constraint and negative feedback. Then, we used 16 Hz binaural beats auditory stimulation (BBs) for 10 minutes to enhance cognitive vigilance and mitigate stress. Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS), salivary alpha-amylase, and behavioral reactions were used to determine the stress level. The level of stress was assessed using reaction time to stimuli (RT), accuracy of target detection, directed functional connectivity based on partial directed coherence, graph theory measures, and the laterality index (LI). We discovered that 16 Hz BBs mitigated mental stress by substantially increasing the target detection accuracy by 21.83% ( p <0.001) and decreasing salivary alpha amylase levels by 30.28% (p<0.01). The partial directed coherence, graph theory analysis measures, and LI results indicated that mental stress decreased information flow from the left to the right prefrontal cortex under stress, whereas the 16 Hz BBs had a major impact on enhancing vigilance and mitigating mental stress via boosting connectivity network on the dorsolateral and left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex.

A Case of Bilateral Cochlear Implantation for Congenital Visual-Auditory Dual Disability Associated with Wolfram Syndrome and Osteogenesis Imperfecta

We report a case of bilateral cochlear implant surgery performed for profound sensorineural hearing loss in a 2-year-old girl with Wolfram syndrome and osteogenesis imperfecta type I. Wolfram syndrome is a rare autosomal-recessive genetic disorder characterized by juvenile diabetes mellitus and visual impairment. The hearing loss in Wolfram syndrome is typically a slowly progressive sensorineural hearing loss, primarily in the high-frequency range. Genetic testing of our patient showed mutations in WFS1 and COL1A1. Bilateral cochlear implant surgery was performed, because adequate wearing thresholds could not be achieved with hearing aids. This report is the first case of a patient with Wolfram syndrome with profound congenital hearing loss who benefited from cochlear implant surgery. The patient had a visual-auditory dual disability and lacked external stimuli. The cochlear implant provided valuable auditory compensation to ensure auditory stimulation. In the future, it is necessary to continue comprehensive rehabilitation for the patient with collaboration among the parents, speech-language pathologists, and rehabilitation facilities.

Variable Cadence Gait Training Outcomes Using Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation Embedded in Older Adults' Preferred Music.

Older adults must have the ability to walk at variable speeds/distances to meet community demands. This single group pre-post test study's purposes were to examine if actual cadences after 7 weeks of rhythmic auditory stimulation gait training matched target cadences, improved walking distance, duration, velocity, maximum cadence, balance, enjoyment, and/or changed spatial/temporal gait parameters. Fourteen female adults (72.6 ± 4.4years) participated in 14 sessions, while variable cadences were progressively introduced. Eleven older adult responders walked faster (3.8 steps/min) than one target cadence (-10% pace) while matching the target cadences for the other paces when walking with rhythmic auditory stimulation. Two nonresponders walked near their baseline cadence with little variability while one walked at faster cadences; all three did not appear to adjust to the beat of the music. After training, participants increased their walking distance, 90.8 ± 46.5m; t(1, 13) = -7.3; p ≤ .005, velocity, 0.36 ± 0.15m/s; t(1, 40) = -15.4; p < .001, and maximum cadence, 20.6 ± 9.1 steps/min; t(1, 40) = -14.6; p < .001; changes exceeded minimal clinically important differences. Twelve of 14 expressed enjoyment. Walk with rhythmic auditory stimulation training is a promising activity for older adults, which may translate to an individual's ability to adapt walking speeds to various community demands.

A Neurolinguistic View of the Visual Stimulus Selection System and the Auditory Processing of Children's Language

The question of whether the absorption and response of visual stimulation are more effective than the auditory stimulation of English sounds by Indonesian-speaking students has just been answered. This study aims to describe the mental system of visual excitatory selection of words and to hear the sounds of English and Indonesian laterally from a neurolinguistic perspective. This study applies a phenomenology-based qualitative descriptive approach. The informants of this study were 22 elementary school children. The method used to collect data in this study is the method of observation and literature with recording and note-taking techniques. The techniques used to analyze the data are statistical and descriptive analysis. The results of this study indicate that the response to word sight stimulation is longer than the sound auditory stimulus trigger. From the point of view of the lateral mechanism, the responses of elementary school students to Indonesian word stimuli in English are, on average, more extended than the period for responses to English word stimuli in Indonesian. It is due to the limitations of the English lexicon, factors outside the language, psychological conditions, and combinations of motor movements that interrupt the focus of word calling. The lateral processing system model of words and sounds contributes to the teacher as a guide for implementing teaching strategies.

Mismatch Negativity Responses to Different Auditory Attributes in Normally Developing Infants and Children.

Introduction Mismatch negativity (MMN) is a change-specific component of the event-related potentials that is elicited by an irregularity in repetitive auditory stimulation. As it is developmentally stable and can be measured in the absence of the participant's attention, it can be a valuable method for assessing auditory discrimination in infants and young children. The classic MMN paradigm involves tone frequency as the mismatching attribute. Multi-feature MMN paradigms which involvedifferent auditory attributes can assess discrimination abilities in a wider group of disorders. The study aimed to report standardised MMN values obtained with MMN paradigms including several auditory attributes to extend the clinical applicability of the test in infants and young children. Methods MMN responses were recorded in 42 normal infants and young children (2 months to 5 years) with multi-feature MMN paradigms. MMN variables in different trials were compared by one-way ANOVA. Pearson's correlation coefficient and independent sample t-test were performed for finding an association with the age and gender of the participants respectively. P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results MMN amplitude exhibited statistically significant differences in different MMN paradigms (p<0.05). An increase in the degree of standard and deviant differences and double deviant responses also resulted in larger MMN. MMN latency variation in the trials was not statistically significant. The age and gender of the participants did not influence the MMN variables with statistical significance. Conclusion MMN paradigms with different auditory attributes report significant amplitude variations. Multi-feature MMN paradigms can optimize the clinical applicability of the test and can determine the profile of different auditory discrimination abilities.

The impact of music therapy in the rehabilitation of individuals with COPD: systematic review

Introduction: In the pulmonary rehabilitation of COPD, it is recommended to use non-pharmacological treatment methods with the participation of the individual, as well as pharmacological treatment methods. Music therapy, a non-pharmacological treatment method, is also used in COPD symptom management.&#x0D; Aim: To clarify the impact of music therapy in the rehabilitation of individuals with COPD.&#x0D; Method: The research was created under PRISMA-P standards. In this research, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, PUBMED, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases were reviewed. The databases were viewed from the first article to the 25.10.2022 date in English words. Cochrane MeSH’s; ‘COPD and music’, ‘COPD and music therapy’, ‘COPD and acoustic stimulation’, ‘COPD and auditory stimulation’ were written. In total 3070 articles were reached. Duplicate articles are cleared with the Mendeley citation program. Inclusion criteria are defined according to PICOS. Studies included randomized controlled trials. The review was structured by considering the Cochrane Guideline.&#x0D; Result: From databases, with MeSH terms, a total of 3070 studies were reached. 16 randomized controlled trials were evaluated with reasons for study inclusion and exclusion criteria from 1995 to 2022 years. The studies included in the review were seen using five different music therapy interventions: singing, singing and harmonica playing, harmonica playing, listening, and auditory stimulation. &#x0D; Conclusion: According to the data obtained from studies, music therapies are effective in the rehabilitation of adult individuals with COPD. However, there is still a need for randomized controlled studies involving different music therapy interventions and a large number of individuals.

How multisensory perception promotes purchase intent in the context of clothing e-customisation.

With the continuing development of internet technologies, an increasing number of consumers want to customise the products they buy online. In order to explore the relationship between perception and purchase intent, a conceptual framework was developed that was based on the link between multisensory perception, positive emotions, and purchase intent in fashion e-customisation marketing. We discuss the outcomes derived from consumers' experiences in fashion e-customisation and analyse the relationships between variables. Questionnaires were used to collect data for this quantitative study (n = 398 participants). The data was analysed using factor analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis. The findings contribute to the field of clothing e-customisation by identifying the effects of visual perception, haptic imagery, and auditory stimulation on arousal, and purchase intent. Visual perception and haptic imagery exerted a positive influence over dominance. We also identify the effects of arousal and dominance on purchase intent, and assess the mediating effects of these variables on visual perception, haptic mental imagery, and purchase intent. The results highlight how fashion e-customisation marketing strategies can be adopted by managers in order to increase positive emotions and how multisensory perception can potentially be used to influence consumers' purchase behaviour.

Responses at Individual Gamma Frequencies Are Related to the Processing Speed but Not the Inhibitory Control.

The link between the state of networks underlying the generation of periodic responses at gamma ranges and cognitive outcomes is still poorly understood. In this study, we tested the idea that the individual differences in the ability to generate responses to auditory stimulation at gamma frequencies may underlie the individual differences in the inhibitory control. We focused on the processing speed and accuracy in the Bivalent Shape Task (a cognitive inhibition task assessing attentional interference) and explored the relationship with responses at 40 Hz and at individual gamma frequencies (IGFs, assessed utilizing auditory envelope-following responses in 30-60 Hz range). In a sample of 70 subjects, we show that individual measures (phase-locking index and event-related spectral perturbation) of the ability to generate gamma-range activity are not related to the individual differences in inhibitory control but rather reflect basic information processing speed in healthy young subjects. With the individualized approach (at IGFs), the observed associations were found to be somewhat stronger. These findings have important implications for the interpretation of gamma activity in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Mapping Research Trends from 20 Years of Publications in Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation.

This study aims to create an all-around insight into the evolutions, status, and global trends of rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) research via enhanced bibliometric methods for the 2001-2020 time period. Articles concerning RAS were extracted from the Web of Science database. CiteSpace, Bibliometrix, VOSviewer, and Graphpad Prism were employed to analyze publication patterns and research trends. A total of 586 publications related to RAS between 2001 and 2020 were retrieved from the Web of Science database. The researcher Goswami U. made the greatest contribution to this field. The University of Toronto was the institution that published the most articles. Motor dysfunction, sensory perception, and cognition are the three major domains of RAS research. Neural tracking, working memory, and neural basis may be the latest research frontiers. This study reveals the publication patterns and topic trends of RAS based on the records published between 2001 and 2020. The insights obtained provided useful references for the future research and applications of RAS.