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Cells that relay information from the ear to the brain can change in significant ways in response to the noise level in the environment. According to new research, expose the cells to loud sounds for a prolonged period of time, and they alter their behavior and even their structure in a manner that may aid hearing in the midst of noise.
End the ruckus, and the cells change again to accommodate for quieter environs. According to the researchers, the brain is amazingly adaptable: The way it receives information can change to accommodate for different conditions.Image credit: Amanda M. Lauer, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
