Srikanta Mishra, Ph.D.
Meet the Researcher
Srikanta Mishra, Ph.D. earned his PhD from the University of Southampton, England and received postdoctoral training from the House Ear Institute, Los Angeles.
He investigates the role of efferent mechanisms in hearing and auditory disorders in humans. Dr. Mishra is a General Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons International award recipient. The Royal Arch Masons support Emerging Research Grants in the area of Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD).
The Research
New Mexico State University
Medial Efferent Mechanisms in Auditory Processing Disorders
Many individuals experience listening difficulty in background noise despite clinically normal hearing and no obvious auditory pathology. This condition has often received a clinical label called auditory processing disorder (APD). However, the mechanisms and pathophysiology of APD are poorly understood. One mechanism thought to aid in listening-in-noise is the medial olivocochlear (MOC) inhibition— a part of the descending auditory system. The purpose of this translational project is to evaluate whether the functioning of the MOC system is altered in individuals with APD. The benefits of measuring MOC inhibition in individuals with APD are twofold: 1) it could be useful to better define APD and identify its potential mechanisms, and 2) it may elucidate the functional significance of MOC efferents in listening in complex environments. The potential role of the MOC system in APD pathophysiology, should it be confirmed, would be of significant clinical interest because current APD clinical test batteries lack mechanism-based physiologic tools.
Research Area: Auditory Development; Auditory Physiology; Central Auditory Processing Disorder
Long-term goal: The overall goal is to understand the role of efferent mechanisms in auditory processing, learning, and disability. The translational goal is to develop mechanism-based and physiological tests for assessing auditory processing.
