Differential Plasticity in Auditory and Prefrontal Cortices, and Cognitive-Behavioral Deficits Following Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Exploring the cognitive effects of hearing loss in adult rats: Implications for visuospatial attention, social behavior, and prefrontal neural activity

Age-related hearing loss in humans has been associated with cognitive decline, though the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We investigated the long-term effects of hearing loss on attention, impulse control, social interaction, and neural activity within medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) subregions. Hearing loss was induced in adult rats via intracochlear neomycin injection (n = 13), with non-operated rats as controls (n = 10). Rats were tested for motor activity (open field), coordination (Rotarod), and social interaction (including ultrasonic vocalization, USV) before surgery and at weeks 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 24 post-surgery. From week 8 on, rats were trained in the five-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT) to assess visuospatial attention and impulse control. Finally, oscillatory neuronal activity in mPFC subregions was recorded with multielectrode arrays during anesthesia, followed by immunohistological staining for NeuN+ and Parvalbumin+ cells. Deafened rats were more active than controls, whereas social interaction and USV were temporarily reduced. They also had difficulties to learn the concept of the 5-CSRTT paradigm and made more incorrect responses. Electrophysiology showed decreased power in theta, alpha, and beta frequency, and enhanced high gamma band in the mPFC in deafened rats, which was most pronounced in the cingulate subregion (Cg1). The number of NeuN+ and Parvalbumin+ cells, however, did not differ between groups. The behavioral deficits together with the altered neuronal activity found in the Cg1 subregion of the mPFC in adult deafened rats may be used as an endophenotype to elucidate the mechanisms behind the cognitive decline seen in older patients with hearing loss.

Conductive hearing loss does not affect spatial learning and memory in middle-aged guinea pigs

Hearing loss (HL) in mid-life has been suggested as a risk factor for cognitive decline. It is unclear whether this relationship is due to deprivation of auditory input alone, degenerative processes, or a combination. Animal models are useful to investigate underlying neural mechanisms as human studies can be confounded by various factors. However, most animal studies use young animals and often exclude females. We used middle-aged guinea pigs of both sexes to investigate whether 8 weeks of auditory deprivation due to conductive HL caused spatial learning and memory impairments. Forty guinea pigs (20 M, 20 F, ~ 12 months) were tested in the Morris Water Maze (MWM) to assess baseline spatial learning and memory. In 20 of these animals (10 M, 10 F) the ear canal was plugged and 8 weeks later, animals were again assessed in MWM. No deficits in spatial learning or memory were observed in either sex. HL caused a small decline in body weight suggesting some stress associated with conductive HL, although adrenal weight, corrected for body weight, did not change. Our data suggest that auditory input deprivation alone does not affect spatial cognition in middle-age, in line with recent human data suggesting that additional risk factors need to be present.

Noise exposure-induced the cerebral alterations: From emerging evidence to antioxidant-mediated prevention and treatment

It's well acknowledged that noise exposure has become a major environmental risk factor of public health. The previous standpoint holds that the main harm of noise exposure is to cause hearing loss of human. However, in the past two decades a large number of studies have linked the noise exposure to various cerebral changes. In this review, we summarized that noise exposure led to cerebral changes through breaking the redox balance, inducing neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis and altering the neurotransmission in numerous brain areas, including cortex, thalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, striatum and cerebellum. Those cerebral changes finally result in a variety of disorders, such as tinnitus, anxiety, depression, cognitive impairment and motor dysfunction. Furthermore, we reviewed several antioxidants, such as resveratrol, vitamin C, curcumin, N-acetylcysteine and α-asarone, and highlighted their protective mechanisms against noise exposure, aiming to provide a promising strategy to prevent and treat noise exposure-induced diseases. Taken together, noise exposure induces various cerebral changes and further leads to disorders in the central nervous system, which can be ameliorated by the treatment with antioxidants.

Cortical region-specific recovery of auditory temporal processing following noise-induced hearing loss

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) studies have focused on the lemniscal auditory pathway, but little is known about how NIHL impacts different cortical regions. Here we compared response recovery trajectories in the auditory and frontal cortices (AC, FC) of mice following NIHL. We recorded EEG responses from awake mice (male n = 15, female n = 14) before and following NIHL (longitudinal design) to quantify event related potentials and gap-in-noise temporal processing. Hearing loss was verified by measuring the auditory brainstem response (ABR) before and at 1-, 10-, 23-, and 45-days after noise-exposure. Resting EEG, event related potentials (ERP) and auditory steady state responses (ASSR) were recorded at the same time-points after NIHL. The inter-trial phase coherence (ITPC) of the ASSR was measured to quantify the ability of AC and FC to synchronize responses to short gaps embedded in noise. Despite the absence of click-evoked ABRs up to 90 dB SPL and up to 45-days post-exposure, ERPs from the AC and FC showed full recovery in ∼ 50 % of the mice to pre-NIHL levels in both AC and FC. The ASSR ITPC was reduced following NIHL in AC and FC in all the mice on day 1 after NIHL. The AC showed full recovery of ITPC over 45-days. Despite ERP amplitude recovery, the FC does not show recovery of ASSR ITPC. These results indicate post-NIHL plasticity with similar response amplitude recovery across AC and FC, but cortical region-specific trajectories in temporal processing recovery.

From sound waves to molecular and cellular mechanisms: Understanding noise‑induced hearing loss and pioneering preventive approaches (Review)

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a significant and urgent global public health concern, arising from prolonged exposure to elevated levels of noise. This auditory impairment harms delicate inner ear structures, particularly the essential hair cells transmitting auditory signals to the brain. Recognized by the World Health Organization as a major contributor to worldwide hearing loss, NIHL requires a comprehensive examination of its molecular and cellular mechanisms. Animal models emerge as indispensable tools for unraveling these intricacies, allowing researchers to simulate and study the impact of noise exposure on auditory structures, shedding light on the interplay of oxidative stress, inflammation and immune responses-crucial factors in NIHL progression. The present review focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms of NIHL, with a specific emphasis on findings derived from animal models, alongside the exploration of thorough preventive strategies, including protective measures and probing potential interventions. Understanding the molecular underpinnings not only provides insight into targeted treatment approaches, but also unlocks pathways for exploring and implementing preventive actions. This approach not only deepens the current comprehension of NIHL, but also has the potential to influence the shaping of public health policies, offering a nuanced perspective on this prevalent auditory disorder.

Neurophysiological, structural, and molecular alterations in the prefrontal and auditory cortices following noise-induced hearing loss

It is well established that hearing loss can lead to widespread plasticity within the central auditory pathway, which is thought to contribute to the pathophysiology of audiological conditions such as tinnitus and hyperacusis. Emerging evidence suggests that hearing loss can also result in plasticity within brain regions involved in higher-level cognitive functioning like the prefrontal cortex; findings which may underlie the association between hearing loss and cognitive impairment documented in epidemiological studies. Using the 40-Hz auditory steady state response to assess sound-evoked gamma oscillations, we previously showed that noise-induced hearing loss results in impaired gamma phase coherence within the prefrontal but not the auditory cortex. To determine whether region-specific structural or molecular changes accompany this differential plasticity following hearing loss, in the present study we utilized Golgi-Cox staining to assess dendritic organization and synaptic density, as well as Western blotting to measure changes in synaptic signaling proteins in these cortical regions. We show that following noise exposure, impaired gamma phase coherence within the prefrontal cortex is accompanied by alterations in pyramidal cell dendritic morphology and decreased expression of proteins involved in GABAergic (GAD65) and glutamatergic (NR2B) neurotransmission; findings that were not observed in the auditory cortex, where gamma phase coherence remained unchanged post-noise exposure. In contrast to the noise-induced effects we observed in the prefrontal cortex, plasticity in the auditory cortex was characterized by an increase in NR2B suggesting increased excitability, as well as increases in the synaptic proteins PSD95 and synaptophysin within the auditory cortex. Overall, our results highlight the disparate effect of noise-induced hearing loss on auditory and higher-level brain regions as well as potential structural and molecular mechanisms by which hearing loss may contribute to impaired cognitive and sensory functions mediated by the prefrontal and auditory cortices.

Gastrodin Ameliorates Learning and Memory Impairments Caused by Long-Term Noise Exposure

The developing brain is significantly affected by long-term exposure to noise at an early age, leading to functional disorders such as learning and memory impairments. Gastrodin (GAS), a natural organic compound, is an extraction of phenolic glycoside from the rhizome of Gastrodia elata. Clinically, GAS is extensively utilised for the treatment of neurological disorders. This study aimed to explore the effect and mechanism of GAS on noise exposure-induced learning and memory impairments. Rats aged 21 days were exposed to a 90 dB noise environment for 4 weeks and divided into the noise group, the noise + GAS group, and the control group to establish a noise exposure model. After noise exposure treatment, the improvement effect of GAS on the memory of rats was evaluated by Y-maze and Morris water maze. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was utilised to determine the effect of GAS on neurotransmitter levels in the hippocampal tissue of noise-exposed rats. Western blot was applied for the detection of the protein levels of neurotrophic factors. The GAS treatment significantly improved spatial memory and increased the levels of key neurotransmitters (norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin) and neurotrophic factors (neurotrophin-3 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor) in the hippocampal tissues of noise-exposed rats. These alterations correlate with enhanced cognitive functions, suggesting a neuroprotective effect of GAS against noise-induced cognitive impairments. This study supports the potential of GAS to treat noise-induced learning and memory impairments by modulating neurotransmitter secretion and enhancing the expression levels of neurotrophic factors. These findings offer potential therapeutic avenues for cognitive impairments induced by noise exposure.

Cerebral cortex functional reorganization in preschool children with congenital sensorineural hearing loss: a resting-state fMRI study

Purpose

How cortical functional reorganization occurs after hearing loss in preschool children with congenital sensorineural hearing loss (CSNHL) is poorly understood. Therefore, we used resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) to explore the characteristics of cortical reorganization in these patents.

Methods

Sixty-three preschool children with CSNHL and 32 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited, and the Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) scores were determined at the 6-month follow-up after cochlear implantation (CI). First, rs-fMRI data were preprocessed, and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) were calculated. Second, whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) analysis was performed using bilateral primary auditory cortex as seed points. Finally, Spearman correlation analysis was performed between the differential ALFF, ReHo and FC values and the CAP score.

Results

ALFF analysis showed that preschool children with CSNHL had lower ALFF values in the bilateral prefrontal cortex and superior temporal gyrus than HCs, but higher ALFF values in the bilateral thalamus and calcarine gyrus. And correlation analysis showed that some abnormal brain regions were weak negatively correlated with CAP score (p < 0.05). The ReHo values in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus, part of the prefrontal cortex and left insular gyrus were lower, whereas ReHo values in the bilateral thalamus, right caudate nucleus and right precentral gyrus were higher, in children with CSNHL than HCs. However, there was no correlation between ReHo values and the CAP scores (p < 0.05). Using primary auditory cortex (PAC) as seed-based FC further analysis revealed enhanced FC in the visual cortex, proprioceptive cortex and motor cortex. And there were weak negative correlations between the FC values in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus, occipital lobe, left postcentral gyrus and right thalamus were weakly negatively correlated and the CAP score (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

After auditory deprivation in preschool children with CSNHL, the local functions of auditory cortex, visual cortex, prefrontal cortex and somatic motor cortex are changed, and the prefrontal cortex plays a regulatory role in this process. There is functional reorganization or compensation between children's hearing and these areas, which may not be conducive to auditory language recovery after CI in deaf children.

Health position paper and redox perspectives - Disease burden by transportation noise

Transportation noise is a ubiquitous urban exposure. In 2018, the World Health Organization concluded that chronic exposure to road traffic noise is a risk factor for ischemic heart disease. In contrast, they concluded that the quality of evidence for a link to other diseases was very low to moderate. Since then, several studies on the impact of noise on various diseases have been published. Also, studies investigating the mechanistic pathways underlying noise-induced health effects are emerging. We review the current evidence regarding effects of noise on health and the related disease-mechanisms. Several high-quality cohort studies consistently found road traffic noise to be associated with a higher risk of ischemic heart disease, heart failure, diabetes, and all-cause mortality. Furthermore, recent studies have indicated that road traffic and railway noise may increase the risk of diseases not commonly investigated in an environmental noise context, including breast cancer, dementia, and tinnitus. The harmful effects of noise are related to activation of a physiological stress response and nighttime sleep disturbance. Oxidative stress and inflammation downstream of stress hormone signaling and dysregulated circadian rhythms are identified as major disease-relevant pathomechanistic drivers. We discuss the role of reactive oxygen species and present results from antioxidant interventions. Lastly, we provide an overview of oxidative stress markers and adverse redox processes reported for noise-exposed animals and humans. This position paper summarizes all available epidemiological, clinical, and preclinical evidence of transportation noise as an important environmental risk factor for public health and discusses its implications on the population level.

Dysfunction of specific auditory fibers impacts cortical oscillations, driving an autism phenotype despite near-normal hearing

Autism spectrum disorder is discussed in the context of altered neural oscillations and imbalanced cortical excitation-inhibition of cortical origin. We studied here whether developmental changes in peripheral auditory processing, while preserving basic hearing function, lead to altered cortical oscillations. Local field potentials (LFPs) were recorded from auditory, visual, and prefrontal cortices and the hippocampus of BdnfPax2 KO mice. These mice develop an autism-like behavioral phenotype through deletion of BDNF in Pax2+ interneuron precursors, affecting lower brainstem functions, but not frontal brain regions directly. Evoked LFP responses to behaviorally relevant auditory stimuli were weaker in the auditory cortex of BdnfPax2 KOs, connected to maturation deficits of high-spontaneous rate auditory nerve fibers. This was correlated with enhanced spontaneous and induced LFP power, excitation-inhibition imbalance, and dendritic spine immaturity, mirroring autistic phenotypes. Thus, impairments in peripheral high-spontaneous rate fibers alter spike synchrony and subsequently cortical processing relevant for normal communication and behavior.

Developmental delays in cortical auditory temporal processing in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome

BACKGROUND

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) encompass a wide array of debilitating symptoms, including sensory dysfunction and delayed language development. Auditory temporal processing is crucial for speech perception and language development. Abnormal development of temporal processing may account for the language impairments associated with ASD. Very little is known about the development of temporal processing in any animal model of ASD.

METHODS

In the current study, we quantify auditory temporal processing throughout development in the Fmr1 knock-out (KO) mouse model of Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), a leading genetic cause of intellectual disability and ASD-associated behaviors. Using epidural electrodes in awake and freely moving wildtype (WT) and KO mice, we recorded auditory event related potentials (ERP) and auditory temporal processing with a gap-in-noise auditory steady state response (gap-ASSR) paradigm. Mice were recorded at three different ages in a cross sectional design: postnatal (p)21, p30 and p60. Recordings were obtained from both auditory and frontal cortices. The gap-ASSR requires underlying neural generators to synchronize responses to gaps of different widths embedded in noise, providing an objective measure of temporal processing across genotypes and age groups.

RESULTS

We present evidence that the frontal, but not auditory, cortex shows significant temporal processing deficits at p21 and p30, with poor ability to phase lock to rapid gaps in noise. Temporal processing was similar in both genotypes in adult mice. ERP amplitudes were larger in Fmr1 KO mice in both auditory and frontal cortex, consistent with ERP data in humans with FXS.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate cortical region-specific delays in temporal processing development in Fmr1 KO mice. Developmental delays in the ability of frontal cortex to follow rapid changes in sounds may shape language delays in FXS, and more broadly in ASD.

Neurobehavioral Alterations from Noise Exposure in Animals: A Systematic Review

Ecosystems are increasingly involved and influenced by human activities, which are ever-increasing. These activities are mainly due to vehicular, air and sea transportation, thus causing possible repercussions on the fauna that exists there. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the possible consequences that these activities may have in the field of animal neurobehavior, with special emphasis on the species involved, the most common environment concerned, the noise source and the disturbance that is caused. This research includes articles published in the major databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Embase, Web of Sciences); the online search yielded 1901 references. After selection, 49 articles (14 reviews and 35 original articles) were finally scrutinized. The main problems that were reported were in relation to movement, reproduction, offspring care and foraging. In live experiments carried out, the repercussions on the marine environment mainly concerned altered swimming, shallower descents, less foraging and an escape reaction for fear of cetaceans and fish. In birds, alterations in foraging, vocalizations and nests were noted; laboratory studies, on the other hand, carried out on small mammals, highlighted spatio-temporal cognitive alterations and memory loss. In conclusion, it appears that greater attention to all ecosystems should be given as soon as possible so as to try to achieve a balance between human activity and the well-being of terrestrial fauna.

Processing of auditory information in forebrain regions after hearing loss in adulthood: Behavioral and electrophysiological studies in a rat model

BACKGROUND

Hearing loss was proposed as a factor affecting development of cognitive impairment in elderly. Deficits cannot be explained primarily by dysfunctional neuronal networks within the central auditory system. We here tested the impact of hearing loss in adult rats on motor, social, and cognitive function. Furthermore, potential changes in the neuronal activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the inferior colliculus (IC) were evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In adult male Sprague Dawley rats hearing loss was induced under general anesthesia with intracochlear injection of neomycin. Sham-operated and naive rats served as controls. Postsurgical acoustically evoked auditory brainstem response (ABR)-measurements verified hearing loss after intracochlear neomycin-injection, respectively, intact hearing in sham-operated and naive controls. In intervals of 8 weeks and up to 12 months after surgery rats were tested for locomotor activity (open field) and coordination (Rotarod), for social interaction and preference, and for learning and memory (4-arms baited 8-arms radial maze test). In a final setting, electrophysiological recordings were performed in the mPFC and the IC.

RESULTS

Locomotor activity did not differ between deaf and control rats, whereas motor coordination on the Rotarod was disturbed in deaf rats (P < 0.05). Learning the concept of the radial maze test was initially disturbed in deaf rats (P < 0.05), whereas retesting every 8 weeks did not show long-term memory deficits. Social interaction and preference was also not affected by hearing loss. Final electrophysiological recordings in anesthetized rats revealed reduced firing rates, enhanced irregular firing, and reduced oscillatory theta band activity (4-8 Hz) in the mPFC of deaf rats as compared to controls (P < 0.05). In the IC, reduced oscillatory theta (4-8 Hz) and gamma (30-100 Hz) band activity was found in deaf rats (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Minor and transient behavioral deficits do not confirm direct impact of long-term hearing loss on cognitive function in rats. However, the altered neuronal activities in the mPFC and IC after hearing loss indicate effects on neuronal networks in and outside the central auditory system with potential consequences on cognitive function.

Noise exposure in early adulthood causes age-dependent and brain region-specific impairments in cognitive function

Hearing loss is a chronic health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. In addition to age-related hearing impairment, excessive noise exposure is a leading cause of hearing loss. Beyond the devastating effects of hearing impairment itself, epidemiological studies have identified hearing loss as a major risk factor for age-related cognitive decline, including dementia. At present, we currently lack a full understanding of the brain regions and underlying molecular changes that are responsible for mediating the link between hearing loss and cognitive impairment across aging. In the present study, we exposed 6-month-old rats to an occupational-like noise (100 dB SPL, 4 h/day × 30 days) or sham exposure and investigated both hippocampal-dependent (i.e., spatial learning and memory, assessed using the Morris water maze) and striatal-dependent (i.e., visuomotor associative learning, assessed using an operant-conditioning task) cognitive function across aging at 7, 10, and 13 months of age. We also investigated brain region-specific changes in microglial expression following noise/sham exposure in order to assess the potential contribution of this cell type to noise-induced cognitive impairments. Consistent with human studies, the occupational-like noise exposure resulted in high-frequency hearing loss, evidenced by a significant increase in hearing thresholds at 20 kHz. Ultimately, our results suggest that not all higher-level cognitive tasks or their associated brain regions appear to be equally susceptible to noise-induced deficits during aging, as the occupational-like noise exposure caused an age-dependent deficit in spatial but not visuomotor associative learning, as well as altered microglial expression in the hippocampus but not the striatum. Interestingly, we found no significant relationships between spatial learning ability and the level of hearing loss or altered microglial density in the hippocampus following noise exposure, suggesting that other changes in the brain likely contribute to hippocampal-dependent cognitive dysfunction following noise exposure. Lastly, we found that a subset of younger animals also showed noise-induced deficits in spatial learning; findings which suggest that noise exposure may represent an increased risk for cognitive impairment in vulnerable subjects. Overall, our findings highlight that even a mild occupational-like noise exposure earlier in adulthood can have long lasting implications for cognitive function later in life.

Auditory Brainstem Responses Predict Behavioral Deficits in Rats with Varying Levels of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Intense noise exposure is a leading cause of hearing loss, which results in degraded speech sound discrimination ability, particularly in noisy environments. The development of an animal model of speech discrimination deficits due to noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) would enable testing of potential therapies to improve speech sound processing. Rats can accurately detect and discriminate human speech sounds in the presence of quiet and background noise. Further, it is known that profound hearing loss results in functional deafness in rats. In this study, we generated rats with a range of impairments which model the large range of hearing impairments observed in patients with NIHL. One month after noise exposure, we stratified rats into three distinct deficit groups based on their auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds. These groups exhibited markedly different behavioral outcomes across a range of tasks. Rats with moderate hearing loss (30 dB shifts in ABR threshold) were not impaired in speech sound detection or discrimination. Rats with severe hearing loss (55 dB shifts) were impaired at discriminating speech sounds in the presence of background noise. Rats with profound hearing loss (70 dB shifts) were unable to detect and discriminate speech sounds above chance level performance. Across groups, ABR threshold accurately predicted behavioral performance on all tasks. This model of long-term impaired speech discrimination in noise, demonstrated by the severe group, mimics the most common clinical presentation of NIHL and represents a useful tool for developing and improving interventions to target restoration of hearing.

Hearing loss and brain plasticity: the hyperactivity phenomenon

Many aging adults experience some form of hearing problems that may arise from auditory peripheral damage. However, it has been increasingly acknowledged that hearing loss is not only a dysfunction of the auditory periphery but also results from changes within the entire auditory system, from periphery to cortex. Damage to the auditory periphery is associated with an increase in neural activity at various stages throughout the auditory pathway. Here, we review neurophysiological evidence of hyperactivity, auditory perceptual difficulties that may result from hyperactivity, and outline open conceptual and methodological questions related to the study of hyperactivity. We suggest that hyperactivity alters all aspects of hearing-including spectral, temporal, spatial hearing-and, in turn, impairs speech comprehension when background sound is present. By focusing on the perceptual consequences of hyperactivity and the potential challenges of investigating hyperactivity in humans, we hope to bring animal and human electrophysiologists closer together to better understand hearing problems in older adulthood.

Closing the species gap: Translational approaches to studying sensory processing differences relevant for autism spectrum disorder

The study of sensory phenotypes has great potential for increasing research translation between species, a necessity to decipher the neural mechanisms that contribute to higher-order differences in neurological conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Over the past decade, despite separate advances in our understanding of the structural and functional differences within the brain of autistic and non-autistic individuals and in rodent models for ASD, researchers have had difficulty translating the findings in murine species to humans, mostly due to incompatibility in experimental methodologies used to screen for ASD phenotypes. Focusing on sensory phenotypes offers an avenue to close the species gap because sensory pathways are highly conserved across species and are affected by the same risk-factors as the higher-order brain areas mostly responsible for the diagnostic criteria for ASD. By first reviewing how sensory processing has been studied to date, we direct our focus to electrophysiological and behavioral techniques that can be used to study sensory phenotypes consistently across species. Using auditory sensory phenotypes as a template, we seek to improve the accessibility of translational methods by providing a framework for collecting cohesive data in both rodents and humans. Specifically, evoked-potentials, acoustic startle paradigms, and psychophysical detection/discrimination paradigms can be created and implemented in a coordinated and systematic fashion across species. Through careful protocol design and collaboration, sensory processing phenotypes can be harnessed to bridge the gap that exists between preclinical animal studies and human testing, so that mutually held questions in autism research can be answered. LAY SUMMARY: It has always been difficult to relate results from animal research to humans. We try to close this gap by studying changes in sensory processing using careful protocol design and collaboration between clinicians and researchers. Sensory pathways are comparable between animals and humans, and are affected in the same way as the rest of the brain in ASD. Using changes in hearing as a template, we point the field in an innovative direction by providing a framework for collecting cohesive data in rodents and humans.