Fast and slow effects of medial olivocochlear efferent activity in humans.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The medial olivocochlear (MOC) pathway modulates basilar membrane motion and auditory nerve activity on both a fast (10-100 ms) and a slow (10-100 s) time scale in guinea pigs. The slow MOC modulation of cochlear activity is postulated to aide in protection against acoustic trauma. However in humans, the existence and functional roles of slow MOC effects remain unexplored.

Methodology/principal findings

By employing contralateral noise at moderate to high levels (68 and 83 dB SPL) as an MOC reflex elicitor, and spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs) as a non-invasive probe of the cochlea, we demonstrated MOC modulation of human cochlear output both on a fast and a slow time scale, analogous to the fast and slow MOC efferent effects observed on basilar membrane

SUBMITTER: Zhao W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3073004 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature