The part of the brain known as the vestibular cerebellum contains a high density of unipolar brush cells (UBCs), neurons that are thought to process and amplify vestibular signals. The latest paper by Emerging Research Grants (ERG) scientist Timothy Balmer, Ph.D., shows that UBCs may help compensate for age-related balance decline in older mice, maintaining stability. This finding could inform strategies to prevent falls and injuries, especially in older adults at higher risk.
Image: Balmer’s team used CNO (clozapine-N-oxide, a chemogenetic activator) to disrupt unipolar brush cell (UBC) activity in mice. Older mice showed more balance issues while younger mice and controls were unaffected, highlighting the UBCs’ role in aging and balance. Credit: Kizeev, Witteveen, Balmer/The Cerebellum
2025 ERG scientist Margaret (Meg) Cychosz, Ph.D., is expanding the universe of language development research.
A virtual reality subway experiment by 2019 ERG scientist Anat Lubetzky, PT, Ph.D., highlights the role of sound in disrupting balance. Lubetzky also recently presented her work in an HHF research webinar.
And, 2024–2025 ERG scientist Divya Chari, M.D., speaks about the cochlear implant surgery she performed for a baby with Usher syndrome.
Tinnitus Awareness Week Is This Week
1991 ERG scientist Laurence Trussell, Ph.D., and ERG scientist Tenzin Ngodup, Ph.D., whose 2018 grant was generously funded by the Les Paul Foundation, and team mapped the unique patterns of gene expression in specific neurons in the brain that process the signals of sound and enable communication.
Hyperacusis, or sound hypersensitivity, often presents with tinnitus. In a new book, tinnitus expert James Henry, Ph.D., describes what he says are actually five distinct sound hypersensitivity disorders—loudness hyperacusis, pain hyperacusis, misophonia, noise sensitivity, and phonophobia—theories about their causes, and treatments.
Plus:
Reclaiming being called “The Deaf Girl”: a memoir from “The Bachelor’s” Abigail Heringer
Those sour notes may be your hearing aids—and how to fix them
Confusion, then clarity, for a family navigating their children’s hearing loss
If you have a disability that prevents you from working, Social Security can help
Emerging Research Grants applications are due March 3: Funding opportunities (U.S. only) are up to $50,000 per year, renewable for a second year. These grants are aimed at early stage investigators with these four topics open to researchers at any career stage: central auditory processing disorder, Ménière’s disease, pain hyperacusis, and tinnitus. Learn more about applying.
Around the Web:
Gene therapy sheds light on common ear condition in Down syndrome (EurekAlert), a feasibility study on a totally implantable cochlear implant (Nature Communications), how sound can boost microbes to heal nature (The Conversation), timing matters for healthy hearing (MIT)
Brain merges sight and sound to understand speech in noisy settings and hearing loss may signal increased risk of Parkinson's disease (both Neuroscience News)
New free app tests hearing (John Hopkins) and the next best thing in hearing may be glasses (Hearing Health & Technology Matters)
7 best ways to keep your memory sharp (Consumer Reports), 15 surprising fall risks (AARP), what doctors wish patients knew about Alzheimer's disease (American Medical Association), and the common issue for people over 50 that's a surprising sign of heart disease (Parade)
Living near an airport could damage your heart (Earth.com), Apple Hearing Study identifies national increase in noise during Super Bowl (University of Michigan), the remarkable power of silence for our bodies and our minds (The Guardian), and how hearing protection became cool (The Walrus)
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