 |
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Previous Article | Next Article
The Journal of Neuroscience, June 15, 2000, 20(12):4701-4707
Predicting Vulnerability to Acoustic Injury with a Noninvasive Assay of Olivocochlear Reflex Strength
Stéphane F. Maison and M. Charles Liberman Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School and Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts 02114-3096
Permanent noise-induced damage to the inner ear is a major cause of hearing impairment, arising from exposures occurring during both work- and pleasure-related activities. Vulnerability to noise-induced hearing loss is highly variable: some have tough, whereas others have tender ears. This report documents, in an animal model, the efficacy of a simple nontraumatic assay of normal ear function in predicting vulnerability to acoustic injury. The assay measures the strength of a sound-evoked neuronal feedback pathway to the inner ear, the olivocochlear efferents, by examining otoacoustic emissions created by the normal ear, which can be measured with a microphone in the external ear. Reflex strength was inversely correlated with the degree of hearing loss after subsequent noise exposure. These data suggest that one function of the olivocochlear efferent system is to protect the ear from acoustic injury. This assay, or a simple modification of it, could be applied to human populations to screen for individuals most at risk in noisy environments.
Key words: cochlea; efferents; noise-induced hearing loss; otoacoustic emissions; ear; damage
Copyright © 2000 Society for Neuroscience 0270-6474/00/20124701-07$05.00/0
This article has been cited by other articles:
P. H. Delano, D. Elgueda, C. M. Hamame, and L. Robles
Selective Attention to Visual Stimuli Reduces Cochlear Sensitivity in Chinchillas
J. Neurosci., April 11, 2007; 27(15): 4146 - 4153.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
S. F. Maison, L. L. Parker, L. Young, J. P. Adelman, J. Zuo, and M. C. Liberman
Overexpression of SK2 Channels Enhances Efferent Suppression of Cochlear Responses Without Enhancing Noise Resistance
J Neurophysiol, April 1, 2007; 97(4): 2930 - 2936.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
K. N. Darrow, S. F. Maison, and M. C. Liberman
Selective Removal of Lateral Olivocochlear Efferents Increases Vulnerability to Acute Acoustic Injury
J Neurophysiol, February 1, 2007; 97(2): 1775 - 1785.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
S. F. Maison, T. W. Rosahl, G. E. Homanics, and M. C. Liberman
Functional Role of GABAergic Innervation of the Cochlea: Phenotypic Analysis of Mice Lacking GABAA Receptor Subunits {alpha}1, {alpha}2, {alpha}5, {alpha}6, beta2, beta3, or {delta}
J. Neurosci., October 4, 2006; 26(40): 10315 - 10326.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
R. Rajan
Contextual Modulation of Olivocochlear Pathway Effects on Loud Sound-Induced Cochlear Hearing Desensitization
J Neurophysiol, April 1, 2005; 93(4): 1977 - 1988.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
S. F. Maison, R. B. Emeson, J. C. Adams, A. E. Luebke, and M. C. Liberman
Loss of {alpha}CGRP Reduces Sound-Evoked Activity in the Cochlear Nerve
J Neurophysiol, November 1, 2003; 90(5): 2941 - 2949.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
A. E. Luebke and P. K. Foster
Variation in Inter-Animal Susceptibility to Noise Damage Is Associated with alpha 9 Acetylcholine Receptor Subunit Expression Level
J. Neurosci., May 15, 2002; 22(10): 4241 - 4247.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|