Central mechanisms of auditory perception: neuroanatomical bases and clinical manifestations in dementia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17721/BPSY.2025.2(22).3Keywords:
hearing impairments, double dissociation, temporal lobe, cognitive ageing, neurodegenerationAbstract
Background. Hearing is one of the key sensory systems that enables adaptation to the environment, communication, learning and cognitive integration. According to the World Health Organization, over 1.5 billion people worldwide experienced hearing loss in 2019, including 430 million who required assistance. These numbers are could rise up to 2.5 billion and 700 million, respectively, by 2050. The study revealed that auditory perception has a structured neuroanatomical organisation that includes ventral and dorsal sound processing pathways, functional asymmetry of the temporal lobes, and specialised modules for processing different elements of auditory messages. Hearing loss among both military personnel and civilians as a result of full-scale invasion is of particular concern due to its potential link to neurodegeneration and the development of dementias. Each profile of neurodegeneration manifests in distinct patterns of auditory-processing dysfunction as a result of damage to specific processing modules.
The aim of the study was to contribute to the scientific discourse on the continuous evolution of auditory perception research, to analyze the cortical correlates of hearing impairment or loss, and to explore the interrelationship between dementia and auditory disorders.
Results. As a result of the theoretical review where highlighted the problems of early study of the auditory perception system due to its neuroanatomical redundancy, its neuroanatomical redundancy, frequent masking of auditory disorders as language impairments, and the shift from a continuous to a modular theory of sound processing. Also, the cognitive architecture of auditory information processing and its modular organization, and demonstrated a bidirectional relationship between auditory-system dysfunction and diverse forms of dementia were detailed.
Conclusions. It can be argued that auditory perception is a complex, modular system that is sensitive to neurodegenerative changes, especially in the temporal lobe. Hearing loss is not only a sensory but also a cognitive phenomenon that can be a predictor of dementia. Double dissociations and the interaction of peripheral and central components of hearing require a multifactorial approach to diagnosis and intervention. Two areas of assistance are proposed: cognitive-compensatory (for the central effect of biological ageing) and sensory (for the central effect of peripheral pathology). Auditory therapy is considered a promising non-pharmacological method for improving the quality of life of people with dementia and hearing loss.
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