Hörverarbeitung, Gehirnplastizität und Hörtherapie

Zusammenfassung

Um Sinneseindrücke aus der Umwelt umfassend verarbeiten zu können, reagiert unser Gehirn mit bestimmten Aktivitätsmustern. Diese Aktivitätsmuster bilden sich i.d.R. in der frühesten Kindheit aus. Allerdings ist das Gehirn auch jenseits der sog. „sensiblen Phasen“ in der Lage, auf neue Sinnesreize mit neuen Aktivitätsmustern zu reagieren. Diese Anpassung an neue Reize wird als „Plastizität“ bezeichnet. Mittlerweile gibt es eine Reihe von Messverfahren, mit denen die Aktivität des Gehirns untersucht werden kann. Mit diesen Messmethoden ist es möglich, das Phänomen der Plastizität im Gehirn zu untersuchen bzw. nachzuweisen. Auch Hörtherapien können die plastischen Veränderungen ausnutzen und dadurch die Kommunikationsbedingungen auch hörgeschädigter Patienten verbessern. Hier wird ein Überblick über die Plastizität, über Messmethoden zur Objektivierung der Gehirnaktivität und über die kortikalen Auswirkungen von Hörtherapien gegeben.

Abstract

Like all sensory systems, the auditory system is highly organised. In order to process sensations from the environment, our brain responds to certain patterns of activity. This activity pattern shape is usually developed in early childhood. It is established that the tuning of neurons in the mammalian auditory cortex can be altered in the brain beyond the so-called „sensitive periods“ also known as the concept of plasticity. Along with computers and more sophisticated signal averaging techniques, improved methods for modelling and quantifying cortical activity have been developed. In combination with measurements of auditory perception it became possible to examine physiological correlates and changes in normal and disordered perception and to propose new brain-behavioural relationships. Especially auditory therapy can also take advantage of this plasticity for improving the patient’s everyday communication. Here we present an overview of plasticity, measurement methods for objectifying brain activity and the cortical effects of auditory therapy.

Schlüsselwörter

Gehirnplastizität - zentrale Hörbahn - Hörtraining - auditorisch evozierte ­Potenziale - Hörtherapie

Key words

auditory plasticity - central auditory system - auditory training - auditory evoked potentials - perceptual learning

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