EFFERENT MODIFICATIONS OF COCHLEAR PROCESSING

这个项目的目标是寻求加深我们对 科尔蒂器官通过研究其对声音的生理反应而发挥作用 以及通过选定的手法进行电刺激。停用或 传出神经系统的电激活将被用来改变 “正常”的耳蜗功能。耳蜗反应将以总反应来衡量。 电位和耳道耳声发射。传出者的角色 神经系统在耳蜗处理中的作用目前还不清楚。Aim我会检查 消除耳聋对耳蜗反应的影响 传出神经系统，或过度刺激它。这些操纵将会 关注传出信号在改善信号检测中的作用 噪音。外毛细胞对正常的耳蜗功能至关重要。这个 激活传出神经对耳蜗反应的影响 通过外毛细胞进行调节。令人感兴趣的是耳蜗的 对传出器失活或 长时间的刺激。AIM II将检查这些影响 电诱发的传出系统的电激活 耳道记录耳声发射(EEOAE)。这个 EEOAE的特性是项目6的主要重点，而且 在项目2中研究。相对较新的刺激耳蜗的方法 通过电刺激圆形窗口提供了一种令人兴奋的方式 研究Corti器官的功能。外毛细胞被认为是 EEOAE的来源，反映了反向转导过程。这个 耳蜗基底部的外毛细胞在最大程度上运行。 根据外毛细胞的机械性能获得的点 和反向转导过程。基底外侧的神经支配 毛细胞通过内侧传出系统提供了一种改变 外毛细胞的增益点。特别值得关注的是 辨析和加深我们对 “慢”传出效应。与“快速”传出效果不同， 慢效应似乎与保护现象有关， 由于听觉创伤而导致的听力损失。更好地理解 这种现象对暴露在噪音中的人类有明显的潜在好处。 听起来。

The goals of this project are to seek to further our understanding of organ of Corti function by studying its physiological responses to sound and electrical stimulation with selected manipulations. Inactivation or electrical activation of the efferent neural system will be used to alter "normal" cochlear function. Cochlear responses will be measured as gross potentials and ear canal otoacoustic emissions. The role of the efferent neural system in cochlear processing remains unknown. Aim I will examine alterations in cochlear responses as a consequences of eliminating the efferent neural system, or over-stimulating it. These manipulations will focus on the efferents role in the improvement of signal detection in noise. The outer hair cell is crucial to normal cochlear function. The effects on cochlear responses caused by activation of the efferents is mediated through the outer hair cell. Of interest is the cochlea's response to conditions in which the efferents are inactivated or stimulated for extended periods of time. Aim II will examine the effects of electrical activation of the efferent system on the electrically evoked otoacoustic emission (EEOAE) recorded in the ear canal. The characterization of the EEOAE is the primary focus of project 6 and also studied in project 2. The relatively new method of stimulating the cochlea by electrically stimulating the round window provides an exciting way to study organ of Corti function. The outer hair cells are thought to be the source of the EEOAE and reflects the reverse transduction process. The outer hair cells in the base of the cochlea are operating at a maximum gain point in terms of the mechanical properties of the outer hair cells and the reverse transduction process. The innervation of the basal outer hair cells by the medial efferent system provides a means of altering the gain point of the outer hair cells. Of particular interest is the possibility of differentiating and furthering our understanding of the "slow" efferent effect. In contrast to the "fast" efferent effect, the slow effect appears to be related to protective phenomenon that reduces hearing loss as a result of acoustic trauma. A better understanding of this phenomenon has clear potential benefit to humans exposed to loud sounds.