Researchers at the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG) have shown how a minimal change in a single ion channel increases the sensitivity of sensory cells in the inner ear. Even soft sounds, such as a whisper, are perceived more clearly, but can cause prolonged overloading, which can ultimately lead to long-term hearing loss. These findings deepen our understanding of how sound information is encoded in the ear. The results have been published in the journal Science Advances.
How dysfunction of a cellular calcium channel affects hearing
