[Otoacoustic emission nonlinear distortions in musicians with absolute and relative pitch]

In the presented study an analysis was performed of the properties of the cochlea using Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE). 52 musicians were examined, aged 17-31 years, with systematic musical training longer than 10 years, and 30 non-musicians without musical experience, aged 18-30 years. Then all musicians were tested with Rakowski's test to divide them into the absolute pitch possessors (APP) and relative pitch possessors (RPP). DPOAE recorded in musicians were statistically higher than in nonmusicians for f2 = 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 kHz for signal intensities generally ranged from 45 to 55 dB SPL. Analogous comparison between APP and RPP showed higher DPOAE for f2 = 2.0 and 4.0 kHz in APP but the differences were not statistically significant. Simultaneously no significant differentiations were observed between investigated groups for highest signal intensities in the whole frequency band. The study suggests that systematic musical training influences the cochlear mechanics assessed by DPOAE and the greatest differences concern the active processes within the cochlea. The continuation seems to be justified.