Attention and otoacoustic emissions: a review

The possible existence of an attention effect on the peripheral auditory system remains a controversial issue. The aim of the present study is to show the possible contribution of otoacoustic emissions towards demonstrating cognitive control of peripheral auditory processes via the auditory efferent fibers. This measurement technique allows investigation of a further part of the peripheral auditory pathways and of whether efferent fibers, presumably involved in cochlear neurosensory activity, could mediate an attention effect by the selection of auditory information.