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Contrasting effects of centrifugal olivo-cochlear inhibition and of middle ear muscle contraction on the response characteristics of the cat's auditory nerve

par Desmedt, Jean Edouard ;La Grutta, Vittorio ;La Grutta, G.
Référence Brain research, 30, 2, page (375-384)
Publication Publié, 1971-07

Article révisé par les pairs

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Résumé :

The auditory nerve response to clicks over 40 dB range from threshold was recorded in cats with middle ear muscles cut and Flaxedil paralysis. Response characteristics were expressed by intensity functions and by latency-voltage scatter diagrams of the N1 potential. Stereotaxic activation of the crossed olivo-cochlear bundle (OCB) inhibited N1 and produced a unique transformation of its latency-voltage characteristic (Figs. 2, 3). The effect was proportional to the potency of OCB activation. The effect was not seen when the N1 response was reduced by middle ear muscle contraction, the latter affecting the response characteristics in similar manner to that of a simple attenuation of the sound intensity outside the head. The N1 potential represents the modal activity of high CF auditory units from the basal turn of the cochlea, and the above effects on latency characteristics are of teh right order of magnitude to exert a profound influence on binaural interactions at higher order neurons. The membrane mechanism involved in the OCB effect at the inner ear is briefly discussed. © 1971.