Experimental evidence for a cochlear source of the precedence effect
Federica Bianchi1, Sarah Verhulst, Torsten Dau
1Oticon Center of Excellence for Hearing and Speech Sciences, Technical University of Denmark, Ørsteds Plads Building 352, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark, fbia@elektro.dtu.dk.
Summary
The precedence effect (PE) in sound localization is primarily driven by peripheral auditory processing, specifically at the basilar membrane, rather than central auditory pathways. This peripheral lag suppression occurs within 1-4 ms and contributes to the PE.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Psychoacoustics
- Human Physiology
Background:
- The precedence effect (PE) describes how direct sounds dominate over reflections in sound localization.
- The specific roles of peripheral versus central auditory systems in the PE are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the contribution of peripheral auditory processing to the precedence effect.
- To compare physiological and psychoacoustical data in human listeners.
Main Methods:
- Psychoacoustical experiments: fusion, interaural time difference detection, and lateralization tasks.
- Physiological recordings: click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (CEOAEs) to assess basilar membrane activity.
- Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) to evaluate brainstem-level processing.
Main Results:
- The precedence window for the PE was identified as 1 to 4.6-5 ms.
- CEOAEs showed maximal peripheral lag suppression for interclick intervals (ICIs) of 1-4 ms.
- Monaural ABRs reflected peripheral lag suppression, but binaural ABRs showed no significant central contribution to this suppression.
Conclusions:
- Peripheral lag suppression at the basilar membrane (1-4 ms) underlies the observed reduction in ABRs.
- This peripheral mechanism is a likely contributor to the precedence effect for click stimuli.
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