Neuronal gain adaptation has been proposed as the underlying mechanism leading to the perception of phantom sounds such as Zwicker tones and tinnitus. In this gain-adaptation theory, cochlear compression plays a significant role with weaker compression leading to stronger phantom percepts. The specific aim of this study was to find a link between the strength of neuronal gain adaptation and cochlear compression. Compression was assessed using distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). Gain adaptation is hypothesized to manifest itself in the sensitization observed for the detection of masked tones when preceded by notched noise. Perceptual thresholds for pure tones in notched noise were measured at multiple frequencies following various priming signals. The observed sensitization was larger than expected from the combined effect of the various maskers. However, there was no link between sensitization and compression. Instead, across subjects, stronger sensitization correlated with stronger DPOAEs evoked by low-level primaries. In addition, growth of DPOAEs correlated reliably with perceptual thresholds across frequencies within subjects. Together, the data suggest that short-term dynamic adaptation leading to perceptual sensitization is the result of an active process mediated by the outer hair cells, which are thought to modulate the gain of the cochlear amplifier via efferent feedback.
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February 2010
February 05 2010
Sensitization to masked tones following notched-noise correlates with estimates of cochlear function using distortion product otoacoustic emissions
Xiang Zhou;
Xiang Zhou
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The City College of the City University of New York
, Steinman Hall, Room T-401, Convent Avenue, 140th Street, New York, New York 10031
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Simon Henin;
Simon Henin
Speech and Hearing Sciences, Graduate Center,
City University of New York
, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016
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Suzanne E. Thompson;
Suzanne E. Thompson
Speech and Hearing Sciences, Graduate Center,
City University of New York
, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016
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Glenis R. Long;
Glenis R. Long
Speech and Hearing Sciences, Graduate Center,
City University of New York
, 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016
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Lucas C. Parra
Lucas C. Parra
a)
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
The City College of the City University of New York
, Steinman Hall, Room T-401, Convent Avenue, 140th Street, New York, New York 10031
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a)
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Electronic mail: [email protected]
J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 127, 970–976 (2010)
Article history
Received:
September 17 2009
Accepted:
November 23 2009
Citation
Xiang Zhou, Simon Henin, Suzanne E. Thompson, Glenis R. Long, Lucas C. Parra; Sensitization to masked tones following notched-noise correlates with estimates of cochlear function using distortion product otoacoustic emissions. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 1 February 2010; 127 (2): 970–976. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.3277156
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