Age-Associated Reduction of Asymmetry in Human Central Auditory Function: A 1H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of age on hemispheric asymmetry in the auditory cortex after pure tone stimulation. Ten young and 8 older healthy volunteers took part in this study. Two-dimensional multivoxel 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy scans were performed before and aft...

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Main Authors: Xianming Chen, Yonghui Liang, Yihong Deng, Jianzhong Li, Shiyan Chen, Cuixia Wang, Ping Luo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2013-01-01
Series:Neural Plasticity
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/735290
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author Xianming Chen
Yonghui Liang
Yihong Deng
Jianzhong Li
Shiyan Chen
Cuixia Wang
Ping Luo
author_facet Xianming Chen
Yonghui Liang
Yihong Deng
Jianzhong Li
Shiyan Chen
Cuixia Wang
Ping Luo
author_sort Xianming Chen
collection DOAJ
description The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of age on hemispheric asymmetry in the auditory cortex after pure tone stimulation. Ten young and 8 older healthy volunteers took part in this study. Two-dimensional multivoxel 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy scans were performed before and after stimulation. The ratios of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), glutamate/glutamine (Glx), and γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) to creatine (Cr) were determined and compared between the two groups. The distribution of metabolites between the left and right auditory cortex was also determined. Before stimulation, left and right side NAA/Cr and right side GABA/Cr were significantly lower, whereas right side Glx/Cr was significantly higher in the older group compared with the young group. After stimulation, left and right side NAA/Cr and GABA/Cr were significantly lower, whereas left side Glx/Cr was significantly higher in the older group compared with the young group. There was obvious asymmetry in right side Glx/Cr and left side GABA/Cr after stimulation in young group, but not in older group. In summary, there is marked hemispheric asymmetry in auditory cortical metabolites following pure tone stimulation in young, but not older adults. This reduced asymmetry in older adults may at least in part underlie the speech perception difficulties/presbycusis experienced by aging adults.
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publishDate 2013-01-01
publisher Wiley
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series Neural Plasticity
spelling doaj-art-b233ca6a78504a7aaaf6a40dd02263702025-08-20T02:23:18ZengWileyNeural Plasticity2090-59041687-54432013-01-01201310.1155/2013/735290735290Age-Associated Reduction of Asymmetry in Human Central Auditory Function: A 1H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy StudyXianming Chen0Yonghui Liang1Yihong Deng2Jianzhong Li3Shiyan Chen4Cuixia Wang5Ping Luo6Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Command, PLA, 156 Xihuan Bei Road, Fuzhou 350025, ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Command, PLA, 156 Xihuan Bei Road, Fuzhou 350025, ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Command, PLA, 156 Xihuan Bei Road, Fuzhou 350025, ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Command, PLA, 156 Xihuan Bei Road, Fuzhou 350025, ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Command, PLA, 156 Xihuan Bei Road, Fuzhou 350025, ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Command, PLA, 156 Xihuan Bei Road, Fuzhou 350025, ChinaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Command, PLA, 156 Xihuan Bei Road, Fuzhou 350025, ChinaThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of age on hemispheric asymmetry in the auditory cortex after pure tone stimulation. Ten young and 8 older healthy volunteers took part in this study. Two-dimensional multivoxel 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy scans were performed before and after stimulation. The ratios of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), glutamate/glutamine (Glx), and γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) to creatine (Cr) were determined and compared between the two groups. The distribution of metabolites between the left and right auditory cortex was also determined. Before stimulation, left and right side NAA/Cr and right side GABA/Cr were significantly lower, whereas right side Glx/Cr was significantly higher in the older group compared with the young group. After stimulation, left and right side NAA/Cr and GABA/Cr were significantly lower, whereas left side Glx/Cr was significantly higher in the older group compared with the young group. There was obvious asymmetry in right side Glx/Cr and left side GABA/Cr after stimulation in young group, but not in older group. In summary, there is marked hemispheric asymmetry in auditory cortical metabolites following pure tone stimulation in young, but not older adults. This reduced asymmetry in older adults may at least in part underlie the speech perception difficulties/presbycusis experienced by aging adults.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/735290
spellingShingle Xianming Chen
Yonghui Liang
Yihong Deng
Jianzhong Li
Shiyan Chen
Cuixia Wang
Ping Luo
Age-Associated Reduction of Asymmetry in Human Central Auditory Function: A 1H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study
Neural Plasticity
title Age-Associated Reduction of Asymmetry in Human Central Auditory Function: A 1H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study
title_full Age-Associated Reduction of Asymmetry in Human Central Auditory Function: A 1H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study
title_fullStr Age-Associated Reduction of Asymmetry in Human Central Auditory Function: A 1H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study
title_full_unstemmed Age-Associated Reduction of Asymmetry in Human Central Auditory Function: A 1H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study
title_short Age-Associated Reduction of Asymmetry in Human Central Auditory Function: A 1H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study
title_sort age associated reduction of asymmetry in human central auditory function a 1h magnetic resonance spectroscopy study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/735290
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