Electrophysiological responses in guinea pig cochlea to low frequency sound stimuli: distortion of cochlear...

The present experiment investigated whether or not auditory responses of the middle and/or inner ear in guinea pigs to low frequency sound stimuli [ 60 Hz-2 kHz at 90-120 dB(SPL) ] exhibited the harmonic distortion phenomenon resulting from cochlear microphonics (CM). Measurement of CM leading in turn I by the differential electrode recording method involved measurement of 50 microV isopotential responses, output voltages and CM wave form distortion at each constant sound pressure. The results obtained were as follows: (1) On the 50 microV isopotential response curve and the output voltage curves, the changes at 60-90 Hz were different from those at higher frequencies. (2) At stimuli of 90 or 100 dB(SPL), CM wave form distortion appeared frequently at frequencies below 120 Hz, but were less pronounced above approximately 200 Hz. (3) When raised to 110 and 120 dB(SPL), almost all CM wave forms were distorted at all test frequencies between 60 and 500 Hz. (4) The patterns of CM wave form distortion at frequencies below approximately 120 Hz showed peak clipping and triangular wave distortions, while those at frequencies above approximately 200 Hz showed little of these distortions.