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Correlations between otoacoustic emissions and performance in common psychoacoustical tasks
Dennis McFadden1, Edward G Pasanen1, Mindy M Maloney1
1Department of Psychology and Center for Perceptual Systems, University of Texas, 108 East Dean Keeton, A8000, Austin, Texas 78712-1043, USA.
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|May 3, 2018
Summary
This study found weak correlations between otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) and psychoacoustical performance in trained subjects. Individual hearing performance differences likely stem from neural mechanisms rather than cochlear ones.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Psychoacoustics
- Otoacoustic Emissions
Background:
- Psychoacoustical performance varies among individuals.
- Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are byproducts of cochlear outer hair cell activity.
- Previous research suggests potential links between OAEs and hearing abilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between different types of OAEs and performance on psychoacoustical tasks.
- To determine if OAEs can predict individual differences in hearing performance.
- To explore the contribution of cochlear versus post-cochlear mechanisms to hearing variability.
Main Methods:
- Seventy-five highly trained subjects performed seven psychoacoustical tasks.
- Three types of OAEs were measured: spontaneous (SOAEs), click-evoked (CEOAEs), and distortion-product (DPOAEs).
- Data were analyzed for sex and race differences, and correlations between OAEs and psychoacoustical performance were calculated.
Main Results:
- Spontaneous and click-evoked OAEs showed significant sex and race differences, unlike distortion-product OAEs.
- Correlations between all measured OAEs and psychoacoustical performance were generally weak.
- No OAE type consistently correlated strongly with any psychoacoustical task across sexes within racial groups.
Conclusions:
- The study found limited evidence that OAEs systematically contribute to performance in the studied psychoacoustical tasks.
- Weak correlations, especially for tone detection in quiet, suggest individual hearing differences are not primarily driven by cochlear mechanisms measured by OAEs.
- Psychoacoustical performance variability may be more influenced by post-cochlear (neural) factors than by cochlear (mechanical) factors underlying OAEs.
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