Descending Auditory Pathway

Abstract

The literatures pertinent to the auditory efferent pathways, particularly to their central part, were reviewed.Most of the auditory efferent pathways originate from the primary anditory area. The efferent auditory pathways run all the way with the auditory afferent pathways, untill they are connected with the Rasmussen's olivo-cochlear bundle. The function of the auditory efferent pathways is regarded as control over the cochlear gating.Both physiological and anatomical findings indicate the existence of the cortico-reticulocochlear pathways. These fibers also appear to participate in controlling the cochlear nuclei.The present author suggests that the auditory efferent pathways may be significant in diagnosis of locating the lesion which is responsible for the retrocochlear hearing loss.