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Effects of the crossed acoustic reflex on distortion-product otoacoustic emissions in awake rabbits

  • M. L. Whitehead
  • , G. K. Martin
  • , B. L. Lonsbury-Martin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Recent studies in anesthetized cats suggest that contralateral-sound stimulation acts to suppress ipsilateral neural responses via the medial olivocochlear-efferent system. Activation of this descending efferent pathway presumably influences ipsilateral outer hair cell motility and, thus, cochlear micromechanics, resulting in reduced input to auditory-nerve fibers. The principal aim of the present study was to determine if contralateral-sound stimuli influence the generation of ipsilateral distortion-product otoacoustic emissions, in the ears of awake rabbits. The results showed no effects of contralateral stimuli on these emissions that could not be attributed to the crossed acoustic middle-ear reflex. The findings further indicate that distortion-product otoacoustic emission amplitudes over a wide range of frequencies can be dramatically reduced when the middle-ear reflex is activated.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)55-72
Number of pages18
JournalHearing Research
Volume51
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1991

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Sensory Systems

Keywords

  • Contralateral acoustic stimuli
  • Crossed acoustic middle-ear reflex
  • Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions
  • Olivocochlear efferents

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