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Aging in the Primary Auditory Cortex

delete2025-12-01
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PRE
AI
J
Jonah K. Mittelstadt
K
Kelson Shilling-Scrivo
P
Patrick O. Kanold *
DOI:10.1007/s10162-025-01013-zdelete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Age-related auditory dysfunction affects half of all individuals 60 years and older, yet its causes are poorly understood. While commonly associated with cochlear dysfunction, a growing body of literature suggests that dysfunction originating in the auditory cortex itself is also a major contributor. Here, we review recent literature that describes the effects of aging on the primary auditory cortex in humans, non-human primates, rodents, and a variety of other species. During aging, individuals with auditory cortical dysfunction experience deficits in spectral and temporal processing of sounds, resulting not only from a loss of inhibition but also from an extensive restructuring of cortical circuits. Importantly, aging in the auditory cortex is sex-dependent, yet few studies account for this variable. A lack of comprehensive knowledge on aging in the auditory cortex hinders the path toward restoring cortical function through auditory training or broader cortical rehabilitation paradigms. Thus, we propose a cohesive mechanism of aging in the primary auditory cortex that involves a complex interaction between excitatory and inhibitory neurons, which several factors can modify. These factors include input from higher-order cortical areas, such as the orbitofrontal cortex, as well as the wide-ranging effects of neuromodulators and the external sensory environment, which must be accounted for in a sex-dependent manner.
Keywords:
Auditory cortex
Training
Sex-effect
Neuroplasticity
Aging

Journal

J
JARO-Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology
IF:
2.3
Papers:
48
Citations:
2.3K

Organization

University System of Maryland cover
University System of Maryland
Scholars:
6.4W
Papers: 5.6W
Citations: 113
J
johns hopkins university
Scholars:
1.0W
Papers: 4.0K
Citations: 1