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Human medial olivocochlear reflex: Contralateral activation effect on low and high frequency cochlear response
Abdullah M Jamos1, Wafaa A Kaf1, Mark E Chertoff2
1Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Missouri State University, 901 S. National Ave, Springfield, MO, 65897, USA.
Hearing Research
|February 24, 2020
Summary
The medial olivocochlear (MOC) reflex enhances cochlear responses (CR) in humans, particularly for low-frequency sounds. Cochlear responses show potential as a tool for studying the MOC reflex.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Human Physiology
Background:
- The medial olivocochlear (MOC) reflex modulates auditory nerve activity.
- Cochlear responses (CR), including cochlear microphonic (CM), originate from outer hair cells where MOC fibers synapse.
- Investigating the MOC reflex using CR in humans remains under-researched.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of contralateral MOC reflex activation on human CR.
- To explore the utility of CR for studying the MOC reflex.
Main Methods:
- Recorded CR in 16 female adults using 500 and 2000 Hz tone bursts at 80 dB nHL.
- Activated the MOC reflex using contralateral broadband noise (CBBN) at 40 dB SPL.
- Analyzed CR using peak amplitude and power spectrum methods.
Main Results:
- CR amplitude was enhanced with MOC reflex activation.
- This enhancement was observed for 500 Hz stimuli but not 2000 Hz stimuli.
- Power spectrum analysis yielded similar frequency-dependent findings.
Conclusions:
- The MOC reflex effect on CR is measurable with low-frequency stimuli.
- CR can potentially serve as a tool for studying the MOC reflex in humans.
- Frequency specificity of the MOC reflex's influence on CR was demonstrated.
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