Central Auditory System and Central Auditory Processing Disorders: Some Conceptual Issues

ABSTRACT

The central auditory system has both parallel and hierarchical afferent architectures. In the frequency domain, it is tonotopically constrained, and in the spatial domain, it is dominated by a representation of the contralateral acoustic hemifield. The functions supported by the afferent pathways can be somewhat overlapping, and the connectivity among the pathways is to some degree plastic. Partial deafferentation (in the form of high-frequency hearing loss) and behavioral experience are capable of causing alterations in tonotopic maps in the more rostral auditory system, even in adult animals. Central auditory processing is often frequency-specific. The temporal processes needed for normal auditory function are diverse, which is to be expected given the heterogeneous ways in which auditory events are disposed in time and encoded neurally. Central auditory pathologies need not respect structural or functional boundaries in the brain, and so should be expected to have idiosyncratic presentations. Management strategies based on auditory training may exploit basic neuroplasticity, but more evidence is needed to substantiate any hypothesis of their differential efficacy in remediation of central auditory processing disorders or language and reading problems.

KEYWORDS

Auditory neuroscience - neural representation - neural plasticity - temporal processing - perceptual architecture - auditory training

REFERENCES

• 1 Ruggero M A. Physiology and coding of sound in the auditory nerve. In: Popper AN, Fay RR, eds. The Mammalian Auditory Pathway: Neurophysiology New York: Springer-Verlag 1992: 34-93
• 2 Phillips D P. Introduction to the central auditory nervous system. In: Jahn AF, Santos-Sacchi JR, eds. Physiology of the Ear, 2nd ed San Diego, CA: Singular; 2001;0:613-638
• 3 Semple M N, Aitkin L M. Physiology of pathway from dorsal cochlear nucleus to inferior colliculus revealed by electrical and auditory stimulation.  Exp Brain Res . 1980;  41 19-28
• 4 Spangler K M, Warr W B. The descending auditory system. In: Altschuler RA, Bobbin RP, Clopton BM, Hoffman DW, eds. Neurobiology of Hearing: The Central Auditory System New York: Raven Press 1991: 27-46
• 5 Kitzes L M, Doherty D. Influence of callosal activity on units in the auditory cortex of ferret (Mustela putorius).  J Neurophysiol . 1994;  71 1740-1751
• 6 Sally S L, Kelly J B. Effects of superior olivary complex lesions on binaural responses in rat inferior colliculus.  Brain Res . 1992;  572 5-18
• 7 Kitzes L M, Kageyama G H, Semple M N, Kil J. Development of ectopic projections from the ventral cochlear nucleus to the superior olivary complex induced by neonatal ablation of the contralateral cochlea.  J Comp Neurol . 1995;  353 341-363
• 8 Rajan R, Irvine D RF, Wise L Z, Heil P. Effect of unilateral partial cochlear lesions in adult cats on the representation of lesioned and unlesioned cochleas in primary auditory cortex.  J Comp Neurol . 1993;  338 17-49
• 9 Recanzone G H, Schreiner C E, Merzenich M M. Plasticity in the frequency representation of primary auditory cortex following discrimination training in adult owl monkeys.  J Neurosci . 1993;  13 87-103
• 10 Weinberger N M. Learning-induced receptive field plasticity in the primary auditory cortex.  Semin Neurosci . 1997;  9 59-67
• 11 Kilgard M P, Merzenich M M. Cortical map reorganization enabled by nucleus basalis activity.  Science . 1998;  279 1714-1718
• 12 Suga N, Yan J, Zhang Y. Cortical maps for hearing and egocentric selection for self-organization.  Trends Cogn Sci . 1997;  1 13-20
• 13 Irvine D RF, Rajan R, McDermott H J. Injury-induced reorganization in adult auditory cortex and its perceptual consequences.  Hearing Res . 2000;  147 188-199
• 14 Galaburda A M, Sherman G F, Rosen G D, Arboitis F, Geschwind N. Developmental dyslexia: four consecutive patients with cortical anomalies.  Ann Neurol . 1985;  18 222-233
• 15 Jenkins W M, Merzenich M M. Role of cat primary auditory cortex for sound localization behavior.  J Neurophysiol . 1984;  52 819-847
• 16 Phillips D P, Taylor T L, Hall S E, Carr M M, Mossop J E. Detection of silent intervals between noises activating different perceptual channels: Some properties of ``central'' auditory gap detection.  J Acoust Soc Am . 1997;  101 3694-3705
• 17 Viemeister N F. Temporal modulation transfer functions based upon modulation thresholds.  J Acoust Soc Am . 1979;  66 1364-1380
• 18 Viemeister N F. Auditory intensity discrimination at high frequencies in the presence of noise.  Science . 1983;  221 1206-1208
• 19 Scharf B, Quigley S, Aoki C, Peachey N, Reeves A. Focused auditory attention and frequency selectivity.  Percept Psychophys . 1987;  42 215-223
• 20 Bregman A S. Auditory Scene Analysis: The Perceptual Organization of Sound.  Cambridge, MA: MIT Press 1990
• 21 Phillips D P, Brugge J F. Progress in neurophysiology of sound localization.  Ann Rev Psychol . 1985;  36 245-274
• 22 Jenkins W M, Masterton R B. Sound localization: effects of unilateral lesions in central auditory pathways.  J Neurophysiol . 1982;  47 987-1016
• 23 Boehnke S E, Phillips D P. Azimuthal tuning of human perceptual channels for sound location.  J Acoust Soc Am . 1999;  106 1948-1955
• 24 Johnson K O. Sensory discrimination: neural processes preceding discrimination decision.  J Neurophysiol . 1980;  43 1793-1815
• 25 Phillips D P, Hall S E. Response timing constraints on the cortical representation of sound time structure.  J Acoust Soc Am . 1990;  88 1403-1411
• 26 Phillips D P, Hall S E. Spatial and temporal factors in auditory saltation.  J Acoust Soc Am . 2001;  110 1539-1547
• 27 Phillips D P, Hall S E, Boehnke S E, Rutherford L ED. Spatial stimulus cue information supplying auditory saltation.  Perception . 2002;  31 875-885
• 28 Farmer M E, Klein R. The evidence for a temporal processing deficit linked to dyslexia: a review.  Psych Bull Rev . 1995;  2 460-493
• 29 Sanchez-Longo L P, Forster F M. Clinical significance of impairment of sound localization.  Neurol . 1958;  8 119-125
• 30 Griffiths T D, Rees A, Witton C. Evidence for a sound movement area in the human cerebral cortex.  Nature . 1996;  383 425-427
• 31 Tramo M J, Shah G D, Braida L D. Functional role of auditory cortex in frequency processing and pitch perception.  J Neurophysiol . 2002;  87 122-39
• 32 Peretz I, Kolinsky R, Tramo M. Functional dissociations following bilateral lesions of auditory cortex.  Brain . 1994;  117 1283-1301
• 33 Phillips D P. Central auditory processing: a view from auditory neuroscience.  Am J Otol . 1995;  16 338-352
• 34 Merzenich M M, Knight P L, Roth G L. Representation of cochlea within primary auditory cortex in the cat.  J Neurophysiol . 1975;  38 231-249
• 35 Musiek F E, Reeves A G. Asymmetries of the auditory areas of the cerebrum.  J Am Acad Audiol . 1990;  1 240-245
• 36 Cacace A T, McFarland D J. Central auditory processing disorder in school-aged children: a critical review.  J Speech Lang Hear Res . 1998;  41 355-373
• 37 Tallal P, Miller S, Fitch R H. Neurobiological basis of speech: a case for the preeminence of temporal processing.  Ann NY Acad Sci . 1993;  682 27-47
• 38 Fitch R H, Read H L, Benasich A A. Neurophysiology of speech perception in normal and impaired systems. In: Jahn AF, Santos-Sacchi JR, eds. Physiology of the Ear, 2nd ed San Diego, CA: Singular 2001: 651-672
• 39 Bishop D VM, Carlyon R P, Deeks J M, Bishop S J. Auditory temporal processing impairment: neither necessary nor sufficient for causing language impairment in children.  J Speech Lang Hear Res . 1999;  42 1295-1310
• 40 Wright B A, Lombardino L J, King W M. Deficits in auditory temporal and spectral resolution in language-impaired children.  Nature . 1997;  387 176-178
• 41 Helenius P, Uutela K, Hari R. Auditory stream segregation in dyslexic adults.  Brain . 1999;  122 907-913
• 42 Hari R, Kiesilä P. Deficit of temporal auditory processing in dyslexic adults.  Neurosci Lett . 1996;  205 138-140
• 43 Merzenich M M, Jenkins W M, Johnston P. Temporal processing deficits of language-learning impaired children ameliorated by training.  Science . 1996;  271 77-81
• 44 Tallal P, Miller S L, Bedi G. Language comprehension in language-learning impaired children improved with acoustically modified speech.  Science . 1996;  271 81-84
• 45 Scientific Learning Corporation. Fast ForWord™ [Computer Software].  Berkeley, CA: Author 1996
• 46 Gillam R B, Frome Loeb D, Friel-Patti S. Looking back: a summary of five exploratory studies of Fast ForWord.  Am J Speech-Lang Pathol . 2001;  10 269-273
• 47 Chermak G D. Managing central auditory processing disorders. Metalinguistic and metacognitive approaches.  Semin Hear . 1998;  19 379-392
• 48 Sloan C. Management of auditory processing difficulties. A perspective from speech-language pathology.  Semin Hear . 1998;  19 367-378
• 49 Musiek F E, Schochat E. Auditory training and central auditory processing disorders. A case study.  Semin Hear . 1998;  19 357-366
• 50 Louis M, Espesser R, Rey V. Intensive training of phonological skills in progressive aphasia: a model of brain plasticity in neurodegenerative disease.  Brain Cogn . 2001;  46 197-201
• 51 Habib M, Espesser R, Rey V. Training dyslexics with acoustically modified speech: evidence of improved phonological performance.  Brain Cogn . 1999;  40 143-146
• 52 Hook P E, Macaruso P, Jones S. Efficacy of Fast ForWord training on facilitating acquisition of reading skills by children with reading difficulties-a longitudinal study.  Ann Dyslexia . 2001;  51 75-96
• 53 Tallal P, Stark R E. Perceptual/motor profiles of reading impaired children with or without concomitant oral language deficits.  Ann Dyslexia . 1982;  32 163-176
• 54 Van der Lely K J H, Rosen S, McClelland A. Evidence for a grammar-specific deficit in children.  Curr Biol . 1998;  8 1253-1258
• 55 Friel-Patti S, DesBarres K, Thibodeau L. Case studies of children using Fast ForWord.  Am J Speech Lang Pathol . 2001;  10 203-215
• 56 Gillam R B, Crofford J A, Gale M A, Hoffman L M. Language change following computer-assisted language instruction with Fast ForWord or Laureate Learning Systems software.  Am J Speech Lang Pathol . 2001;  10 231-247
• 57 Marler J A, Champlin C A, Gillam R B. Backward and simultaneous masking measured in children with language-learning impairments who received intervention with Fast ForWord or Laureate Learning Systems software.  Am J Speech Lang Pathol . 2001;  10 258-268
• 58 Thibodeau L M, Friel-Patti S, Britt, L. Psychoacoustic performance in children completing Fast ForWord training.  Am J Speech Lang Pathol . 2001;  10 248-257