RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Pitch Perception and Memory: Deficits and Training

This study is exploring how people hear and remember different pitches, which are important for understanding speech, music, and separating sounds. Researchers are particularly interested in individuals who have cochlear implants or have a condition called 'amusia', which means they struggle to recognise musical tones. The study compares their hearing and memory abilities with those of people who don't have these conditions. Through various listening tests and sometimes brain scans (like EEG, MEG, MRI), the team hopes to understand the specific difficulties these groups face. They will also test a special training program designed to improve pitch perception. The goal is to find better ways to help people process sound more effectively.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Hospices Civils de Lyon

Enrolment target

960

Start

26 Nov 2019

Estimated completion

26 Oct 2027

Cochlear Implants

What is this study about?

This research project is all about understanding how we hear and remember different sound pitches – the highness or lowness of a sound. Pitch is super important for many everyday things, like understanding *what* someone is saying by their tone of voice, separating different sounds in a noisy room, and, of course, enjoying music.

The study focuses on a few groups of people: those who use cochlear implants to help them hear, and individuals who have a condition called 'amusia'. Amusia is sometimes known as 'tone deafness', where someone has real difficulty recognising musical tones or making sense of melodies. The researchers want to compare how these groups process pitch compared to people with typical hearing.

By carefully studying these differences, the team hopes to get a clearer picture of *why* some people struggle with pitch. They will use different kinds of listening tests and some may also involve special equipment to look at brain activity. Ultimately, a big part of this study is to test a new training programme. The exciting goal is to see if this training can help improve how people with cochlear implants or amusia hear and interpret sounds, which could make a real difference to their daily lives.

Key takeaways

The study aims to understand how cochlear implant users and people with 'tone deafness' hear and remember sounds.
It compares their abilities with those of people with typical hearing.
Researchers will use listening tests and potentially brain scans (EEG, MEG, MRI) to gather information.
A pitch training program will be tested to see if it can improve sound processing.
The findings could lead to better support and training for individuals with hearing challenges.
Participation involves listening tests, and for some, brain imaging and a training program.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for adults aged 18 to 90 years old, and children aged 5 years and up. You must be generally healthy, without any serious brain or mental health conditions, and be able to understand and follow instructions.

For children, parents or guardians will need to give their permission. All participants, whether adults or children, should be motivated to take part and must be part of a social security scheme, which covers most people living in the UK.

You cannot take part if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Also, for some specific parts of the study that involve MRI or MEG scans (types of brain scans), you'll need to be suitable for those scans, meaning you can't have certain metal implants in your body, for example.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 18 and 90 years old (or a child aged 5 or above, with parental consent)?
Are you generally healthy, without any serious brain or mental health conditions?
Can you understand and follow instructions easily?
Are you not pregnant or breastfeeding?
Are you affiliated with a social security scheme (most UK residents are)?
If required for certain tests, are you suitable for MRI/MEG scans (e.g., no incompatible metal implants)?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, your participation will involve several listening tests to check how you hear and remember different sounds. Some people might also take part in a special pitch training program, where you'll do exercises designed to improve your hearing skills. For certain parts of the study, you might have brain activity measured using special equipment like EEG or MEG, which involves placing sensors on your head. Some adults may also have an MRI scan, which is a common type of body scan. The total duration of your involvement will depend on which parts of the study you participate in, but all tests and training will be explained thoroughly beforehand.

Potential risks and benefits

Potential benefits of taking part include contributing to a better understanding of how people hear and helping to develop new training methods that could improve listening skills for others in the future. You may also find the pitch training helpful yourself, if you are in that group. The risks involved are generally low, mainly related to the time commitment and the need to follow instructions during tests. Brain imaging techniques like EEG, MEG, and MRI are safe and non-invasive. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Lyon Neuroscience Research Center
Verified postcode
Bron, France· Recruiting

Common questions

What is a cochlear implant?

A cochlear implant is a small electronic device that helps people who are profoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing to hear. It's different from a hearing aid, as it bypasses damaged parts of the ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerve.

What is amusia (tone deafness)?

Amusia, often called 'tone deafness', is a condition where a person struggles to recognise or understand music. This might include difficulties with recognising melodies, singing in tune, or detecting incorrect notes.

What kind of training will I do?

The training would involve specific listening exercises designed to help you recognise and distinguish different sound pitches more accurately. There might also be training that uses visual and spatial tasks.

What are EEG, MEG, and MRI scans?

These are safe ways to look at brain activity or structure. EEG and MEG involve placing sensors on your head to measure brainwaves, while an MRI uses magnets and radio waves to create detailed pictures inside your body, including your brain.

Will taking part impact my medical care?

No, taking part in this study will not affect your usual medical care or any existing treatments you are receiving. You are free to stop participating at any time without it impacting your healthcare.

How to find out more

Anne CACLIN

anne.caclin@inserm.fr 4 72 13 89 04 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.