Auditory processing in mammals begins in the peripheral inner ear and extends to the auditory cortex. Sound is transduced from mechanical stimuli into electrochemical signals of hair cells, which relay auditory information via the primary auditory neurons to cochlear nuclei. Information is subsequently processed in the superior olivary complex, lateral lemniscus, and inferior colliculus and projects to the auditory cortex via the medial geniculate body in the thalamus. Recent advances have provided valuable insights into the development and functioning of auditory structures, complementing our understanding of the physiological mechanisms underlying auditory processing. This comprehensive review explores the genetic mechanisms required for auditory system development from the peripheral cochlea to the auditory cortex. We highlight transcription factors and other genes with key recurring and interacting roles in guiding auditory system development and organization. Understanding these gene regulatory networks holds promise for developing novel therapeutic strategies for hearing disorders, benefiting millions globally.

Department of Neurological Sciences University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha Nebraska USA; email

Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery University Medical Center Groningen Graduate School of Medical Sciences and Research School of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurosciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands

Department of Physiology and Cell Biology School of Medicine University of Nevada Reno Nevada USA

Laboratory of Molecular Pathogenetics Institute of Biotechnology Czech Academy of Sciences Vestec Czechia

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Irx3/5 Null Deletion in Mice Blocks Cochlea-Saccule Segregation and Disrupts the Auditory Tonotopic Map

NEUROD1: transcriptional and epigenetic regulator of human and mouse neuronal and endocrine cell lineage programs