Visual attention and evoked otoacoustic emissions: a slight but real effect

The effect of auditory or visual attention tasks on the peripheral auditory system, studied by Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEPs), electrocochleography or Evoked Oto-Acoustic Emissions (EOAEs), has been a subject of controversy. To investigate the divergences in findings, a study using EOAE and visual and auditory attention was run on 12 subjects. A significant effect during visual attention was obtained. A general diminution of EOAEs of 0.35 dB (equivalent reduction) was found. This result seems to prove that BAEPs are not the best technique to reveal the effect of attention on cochlear mechanisms, because of the weakness of the effect.