Research | Altschuler Lab
Altschuler Laboratory Research Projects
The Altschuler Laboratory approaches the study of auditory anatomy via three distinct areas.
Primary areas of Research in the Altschuler Lab:
Lateral Olivocochlear Efferent Function
Stem Cells & Tissue Engineering
Protective Mechanisms & Pathways
The Altschuler Lab studies how the brain processes sound and how it changes when someone loses their hearing or is exposed to loud noise. Usually, the brain can adjust to changes in sound input—helping us focus on essential sounds and ignore background noise. However, when hearing is damaged, this balance is disrupted. This can lead to problems such as tinnitus (a ringing in the ears) or difficulty understanding sounds.
The lab examines how hearing loss impacts brain cells and the neurotransmitters they utilize to convey messages, including glutamate, GABA, and glycine. They also study ion channels, which help regulate the activity of the brain’s hearing pathways.
The research shows that hearing loss can cause specific brain cells to become too active or not active enough. They also study how to protect or regrow the auditory nerve, which carries sound signals from the ear to the brain. This is important for people who use cochlear implants, which help restore hearing.
The team is testing ways to improve hearing after damage, including:
Using electrical stimulation and special proteins called neurotrophic factors to keep nerve cells alive.
Helping nerve endings grow back with these same proteins.
Using stem cells to replace damaged nerve cells when the damage is too great.
The lab also studies how the ear protects itself from damage. They focus on heat shock proteins, which help repair cells after stress, such as loud noise. These proteins may play a crucial role in preventing permanent hearing loss.
