Sound Stimulation for Auditory Processing

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Bharath Chandrasekaran, PhD

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

70 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The frequency-following response (FFR), a scalp-recorded neurophonic potential, is a widely used metric of speech encoding integrity in healthy and clinical human populations. The translational potential of the FFR as a biomarker is constrained by poor understanding of its neural generators and influencing factors. This study leverages a cross-species and cross-level approach to provide mechanistic insight into the properties of the cortical source of the FFR, and elucidate the role of cortical feedback via cortico-collicular projections on modulation of the FFR as a function of stimulus context, arousal state, and category relevance. This clinical trial will focus on the influences of category relevance, predictability, and participant arousal state on the FFRs in neurotypical human participants.

Research Team

Bharath Chandrasekaran, PhD

Principal Investigator

Northwestern University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for English or Mandarin speakers aged 13-25 with normal hearing and less than six years of music training. It's not for those with hearing loss, tinnitus, cognitive impairments, trouble understanding speech in noise, or proficiency in languages other than English/Chinese.

Inclusion Criteria

Hearing sensitivity within normal limits (Puretone hearing thresholds < 25dB from 250 Hz to 8000 Hz)

I am between 13 and 25 years old.

Healthy volunteers

Exclusion Criteria

I have experienced or am currently experiencing issues with my memory or thinking.

Proficiency in languages other than English or Chinese

I have experienced hearing loss or ringing in my ears.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

EEG and Pupillometry Session

Participants listen to sounds while EEG and pupillometry signals are recorded to study the frequency-following response (FFR).

Up to 3 hours

1 visit (in-person)

Data Analysis

Electrophysiological and pupillometry data are preprocessed and analyzed to evaluate pitch tracking and decoding accuracies.

2-4 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for any delayed effects or feedback on the study.

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Speech and non-speech sound stimulation

Trial Overview The study investigates how the brain responds to sounds and language using a neurophonic potential called FFR. It looks at how predictability, relevance of sound categories, and arousal state influence this response in healthy individuals.

Participant Groups

Group I: Neurotypical Human Participants Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Native speakers of Chinese and native speakers of English

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Pittsburgh

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,820

Recruited

16,360,000+

Northwestern University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,674

Recruited

989,000+

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Collaborator

Trials

377

Recruited

190,000+