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Does static ear canal pressure influence pure tone pitch perception?
Daniel Rowan1, Sarosh Kapadia, Mark E Lutman
1Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. dr@isvr.soton.ac.uk
Acta Oto-Laryngologica
|May 15, 2004
Summary
Static ear canal air pressure (ECP) minimally affects pitch perception at 500 Hz and not at 4,000 Hz. This study found no evidence that ECP influences the cochlear place-frequency map.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Psychoacoustics
- Otoacoustic Emissions
Background:
- Static ear canal air pressure (ECP) is known to influence spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs).
- Previous research suggested ECP affects pure-tone pitch perception, potentially impacting the cochlear place-frequency map.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of static ear canal air pressure (ECP) on pitch perception at 500 Hz and 4,000 Hz.
- To determine if ECP affects the cochlear place-frequency map.
Main Methods:
- Nine normal-hearing listeners participated in the study.
- Interaural pitch matching was performed under monaural ECP conditions of 0 daPa and -300 daPa.
Main Results:
- A small, marginally significant downward pitch shift (0.2%) was observed at 500 Hz.
- No statistically significant pitch shifts were detected at 4,000 Hz.
Conclusions:
- ECP does not significantly influence pitch perception at the tested frequencies.
- The findings do not support the hypothesis that ECP affects the cochlear place-frequency map.