Suppression Of Stimulus Frequency Otoacoustic Emissions Research Articles

Human Auditory-Frequency Tuning Is Sensitive to Tonal Language Experience.

Purpose The aim of this study is to investigate whether human auditory frequency tuning can be influenced by tonal language experience. Method Perceptual tuning measured via psychophysical tuning curves and cochlear tuning derived via stimulus-frequency otoacoustic emission suppression tuning curves in 14 native speakers of a tonal language (Mandarin) were compared to those of 14 native speakers of a nontonal language (English) at 1 and 4 kHz. Results Group comparisons of both psychophysical tuning curves (p = .046) and stimulus-frequency otoacoustic emission suppression tuning curves (p = .007) in the 4-kHz region indicated sharper frequency tuning in the Mandarin-speaking group relative to the English-speaking group. The auditory tuning was better at the higher (4 kHz) than the lower (1 kHz) probe frequencies (p < .001). Conclusions The sharper auditory tuning in the 4-kHz cochlear region is associated with long-term tonal language (i.e., Mandarin) experience. Experience-dependent plasticity of tonal language may occur before the sound signal reaches central neural stages, as peripheral as the cochlea.

Nonlinear reflection as a cause of the short-latency component in stimulus-frequency otoacoustic emissions simulated by the methods of compression and suppression.

Stimulus-frequency otoacoustic emissions (SFOAEs) are generated by coherent reflection of forward traveling waves by perturbations along the basilar membrane. The strongest wavelets are backscattered near the place where the traveling wave reaches its maximal amplitude (tonotopic place). Therefore, the SFOAE group delay might be expected to be twice the group delay estimated in the cochlear filters. However, experimental data have yielded steady-state SFOAE components with near-zero latency. A cochlear model is used to show that short-latency SFOAE components can be generated due to nonlinear reflection of the compressor or suppressor tones used in SFOAE measurements. The simulations indicate that suppressors produce more pronounced short-latency components than compressors. The existence of nonlinear reflection components due to suppressors can also explain why SFOAEs can still be detected when suppressors are presented more than half an octave above the probe-tone frequency. Simulations of the SFOAE suppression tuning curves showed that phase changes in the SFOAE residual as the suppressor frequency increases are mostly determined by phase changes of the nonlinear reflection component.

Comparison of distortion-product otoacoustic emission and stimulus-frequency otoacoustic emission two-tone suppression in humans

Distortion-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) and stimulus-frequency otoacoustic emission (SFOAE) are two types of acoustic signals emitted by the inner ear in response to tonal stimuli. The levels of both emission types may be reduced by the inclusion of additional (suppressor) tones with the stimulus. Comparison of two-tone suppression properties across emission type addresses a clinically relevant question of whether these two types of emission provide similar information about cochlear status. The purpose of this study was to compare DPOAE suppression to SFOAE suppression from the same ear in a group of participants with normal hearing. Probe frequency was approximately 1000 Hz, and the suppressor frequency varied from -1.5 to 0.5 octaves relative to the probe frequency. DPOAE and SFOAE suppression were compared in terms of (1) suppression growth rate (SGR), (2) superimposed suppression tuning curves (STCs), and (3) STC-derived metrics, such as high-frequency slope, cochlear amplifier gain, and QERB (ERB, equivalent rectangular bandwidth). Below the probe frequency, the SGR was slightly greater than one for SFOAEs and slightly less than two for DPOAEs. There were no differences in STC metrics across emission types. These observations may provide useful constraints on physiology-based models of otoacoustic emission suppression.

Frequency specificity and left-ear advantage of medial olivocochlear efferent modulation: a study based on stimulus frequency otoacoustic emission.

The medial olivocochlear (MOC) bundle is an auditory nucleus that projects efferent nerve fibers to the outer hair cells (OHCs) for synaptic innervation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible existence of frequency and ear specificity in MOC efferent modulation, as well as how MOC activation influences cochlear tuning. Stimulus frequency otoacoustic emissions (SFOAEs) were used to study MOC efferent modulation. Therefore, the current experiment was designed to compare the degree of SFOAE suppression in the both ears of 20 individuals at 1, 2, 4, and 8 kHz. We also compared changes in Q10 values of SFOAE suppression tuning curves at 1, 2, and 4 kHz under contralateral acoustic stimulation (CAS) and no-CAS conditions. We observed a significant reduction in SFOAE magnitude in the CAS condition compared with the no-CAS condition at 1 and 2 kHz in the left ear. A significant difference in CAS suppression was also found between the left and right ears at 1 and 2 kHz, with larger CAS suppression in the left ear. CAS further produced a statistically significant increase in the Q10 value at 1 kHz and a significant reduction in Q10 values at 2 and 4 kHz. These findings suggest a left-ear advantage in terms of CAS-induced MOC efferent SFOAE suppression, with larger MOC efferent modulation for lower frequencies, and cochlear tuning was sharpened by means of MOC activation at lower frequencies and broadened at higher frequencies.

A fast algorithm for the measurement of stimulus frequency otoacoustic emission suppression tuning curves

Frequency selectivity is an important indicator of auditory function in the human ear. Stimulus frequency otoacoustic emission (SFOAE) suppression tuning curves (STCs) have great potential in the objective analysis of human auditory frequency selectivity but are costly to measure by the traditional algorithm using pure-tone adaptive method. To improve the measurement efficiency of the SFOAE STCs, a faster algorithm based on a suppressor with gradiently changing intensity and interpolation is proposed in this paper. Twelve subjects participated in this study by measuring their SFOAE STCs through the traditional and fast algorithm. The results shows that the average correlation coefficients of the SFOAE STCs measured using the fast and the traditional algorithms at different probe frequencies is 0.94. And the measurement speed of the fast algorithm was approximately 2.10 times higher than the traditional one. Also, the fast algorithm is more efficient than the algorithms of Keefe et al. (2008) and Charaziak et al. (2013). Experimental evidence is provided that the proposed fast algorithm greatly improves the measurement speed and reduces the processing time, exhibiting good accuracy and reliability.

The influence of probe level on the tuning of stimulus frequency otoacoustic emissions and behavioral test in human

BackgroundFrequency selectivity (FS) of the auditory system is established at the level of the cochlea and it is important for the perception of complex sounds. Although direct measurements of cochlear FS require surgical preparation, it can also be estimated with the measurements of otoacoustic emissions or behavioral tests, including stimulus frequency otoacoustic emission suppression tuning curves (SFOAE STCs) or psychophysical tuning curves (PTCs). These two methods result in similar estimates of FS at low probe levels. As the compressive nonlinearity of cochlea is strongly dependent on the stimulus intensity, the sharpness of tuning curves which is relevant to the cochlear nonlinearity will change as a function of probe level. The present study aims to investigate the influence of different probe levels on the relationship between SFOAE STCs and PTCs.MethodsThe study included 15 young subjects with normal hearing. SFOAE STCs and PTCs were recorded at low and moderate probe levels for frequencies centred at 1, 2, and 4 kHz. The ratio or the difference of the characteristic parameters between the two methods was calculated at each probe level. The effect of probe level on the ratio or the difference between the parameters of SFOAE STCs and PTCs was then statistically analysed.ResultsThe tuning of SFOAE STCs was significantly positively correlated with the tuning of the PTCs at both low and moderate probe levels; yet, at the moderate probe level, the SFOAE STCs were consistently broader than the PTCs. The mean ratio of sharpness of tuning at low probe levels was constantly around 1 while around 1.5 at moderate probe levels.ConclusionsProbe level had a significant effect on the sharpness of tuning between the two methods of estimating FS. SFOAE STC seems a good alternative measurement of PTC for FS assessment at low probe levels. At moderate probe levels, SFOAE STC and PTC were not equivalent measures of the FS in terms of their bandwidths. Because SFOAE STCs are not biased by higher levels auditory processing, they may represent cochlear FS better than PTCs.

Tuning of SFOAEs Evoked by Low-Frequency Tones Is Not Compatible with Localized Emission Generation.

Stimulus-frequency otoacoustic emissions (SFOAEs) appear to be well suited for assessing frequency selectivity because, at least on theoretical grounds, they originate over a restricted region of the cochlea near the characteristic place of the evoking tone. In support of this view, we previously found good agreement between SFOAE suppression tuning curves (SF-STCs) and a control measure of frequency selectivity (compound action potential suppression tuning curves (CAP-STC)) for frequencies above 3 kHz in chinchillas. For lower frequencies, however, SF-STCs and were over five times broader than the CAP-STCs and demonstrated more high-pass rather than narrow band-pass filter characteristics. Here, we test the hypothesis that the broad tuning of low-frequency SF-STCs is because emissions originate over a broad region of the cochlea extending basal to the characteristic place of the evoking tone. We removed contributions of the hypothesized basally located SFOAE sources by either pre-suppressing them with a high-frequency interference tone (IT; 4.2, 6.2, or 9.2 kHz at 75 dB sound pressure level (SPL)) or by inducing acoustic trauma at high frequencies (exposures to 8, 5, and lastly 3-kHz tones at 110-115 dB SPL). The 1-kHz SF-STCs and CAP-STCs were measured for baseline, IT present and following the acoustic trauma conditions in anesthetized chinchillas. The IT and acoustic trauma affected SF-STCs in an almost indistinguishable way. The SF-STCs changed progressively from a broad high-pass to narrow band-pass shape as the frequency of the IT was lowered and for subsequent exposures to lower-frequency tones. Both results were in agreement with the "basal sources" hypothesis. In contrast, CAP-STCs were not changed by either manipulation, indicating that neither the IT nor acoustic trauma affected the 1-kHz characteristic place. Thus, unlike CAPs, SFOAEs cannot be considered as a place-specific measure of cochlear function at low frequencies, at least in chinchillas.

An objective assessment method for frequency selectivity of the human auditory system.

BackgroundFrequency selectivity (FS) is an important aspect of auditory function, and is typically described by a tuning curve function. Sharply tuned curves represent a higher acuity in detecting frequency differences, and conversely, broadly tuned curves demonstrate a lower acuity. One way of obtaining tuning curves is from techniques based on subjective behavioral responses, which yields psychophysical tuning curves (PTCs). In contrast, other methods rely on objective auditory responses to sound, such as neuron responses and otoacoustic emissions, amongst others. The present study introduces an objective method that uses stimulus frequency otoacoustic emissions (SFOAEs) to assemble suppression tuning curves (STCs). Finding an objective method of accurately measuring human FS is very important, as it would permit the FS to be assayed in non-responsive patients (e.g., neonates or comatose patients). However, before the objective method can be applied, it must be demonstrated that its ability to estimate the FS, gives comparable results to those obtained by subjective procedures i.e. PTCs.MethodsSFOAEs responses, generated in the peripheral auditory system, were used to produce STCs. PTCs were measured by behavioral responses. The validity of the objective measures of human FS were determined by comparing stimulus frequency otoacoustic emission suppression tuning curves (SFOAE STCs) to PTCs at common stimulus parameters in 10 individuals with normal hearing, at low probe-tone levels.ResultsThe average Q10 ratios measured between PTCs and SFOAE STCs from subjects were close to 1 at various center frequencies (F2,24 = .15, p = .858). The estimates of FS provided by SFOAE STCs and PTCs were similar.ConclusionsThis system could be used to estimate auditory FS by both objective and subjective methods. SFOAE STCs have the potential to provide an objective estimate of auditory FS.

Two-tone suppression of stimulus frequency otoacoustic emissions in human ears with sensorineural hearing loss

Two-tone suppression (2TS) of stimulus frequency otoacoustic emissions (SFOAEs) recorded in normal-functioning human ears is a noninvasive measure of cochlear nonlinearity. This study investigates 2TS SFOAE response properties in 63 subjects with sensorineural hearing loss and normal middle-ear function. SFOAEs were measured using tones at frequencies (fp) from 0.5 to 8 kHz and levels from 40-60 dB SPL. For interpreting SFOAEs, hearing status was classified at each frequency according to degree of hearing loss, with losses ranging from within normal limits to 95 dB HL. SFOAE suppression was measured as a function of suppressor frequency (fs) and level (Ls), with results analyzed in terms of a SFOAE suppression tuning curve. A tip-to-tail difference (TTD) was defined between the Ls needed to produce a criterion decrement in SFOAE level at fs one octave below fp and the Ls needed to produce a criterion decrement near fp. The TTD estimates cochlear-amplifier gain in normal-functioning ears, but its properties in impaired ears based on SFOAEs have not been examined. Results will be analyzed as a function of the hearing status to assess the relative impact of outer-hair cell dysfunction in the SFOAE source region at tonotopic place. [Work supported by NIH.]

Two-tone suppression of stimulus frequency otoacoustic emissions.

Stimulus frequency otoacoustic emissions (SFOAEs) measured using a suppressor tone in human ears are analogous to two-tone suppression responses measured mechanically and neurally in mammalian cochleae. SFOAE suppression was measured in 24 normal-hearing adults at octave frequencies (f(p)=0.5-8.0 kHz) over a 40 dB range of probe levels (L(p)). Suppressor frequencies (f(s)) ranged from -2.0 to 0.7 octaves re: f(p), and suppressor levels ranged from just detectable suppression to full suppression. The lowest suppression thresholds occurred for "best" f(s) slightly higher than f(p). SFOAE growth of suppression (GOS) had slopes close to one at frequencies much lower than best f(s), and shallow slopes near best f(s), which indicated compressive growth close to 0.3 dBdB. Suppression tuning curves constructed from GOS functions were well defined at 1, 2, and 4 kHz, but less so at 0.5 and 8.0 kHz. Tuning was sharper at lower L(p) with an equivalent rectangular bandwidth similar to that reported behaviorally for simultaneous masking. The tip-to-tail difference assessed cochlear gain, increasing with decreasing L(p) and increasing f(p) at the lowest L(p) from 32 to 45 dB for f(p) from 1 to 4 kHz. SFOAE suppression provides a noninvasive measure of the saturating nonlinearities associated with cochlear amplification on the basilar membrane.

Measurement of the Distribution of Medial Olivocochlear Acoustic Reflex Strengths Across Normal-Hearing Individuals via Otoacoustic Emissions

A clinical test for the strength of the medial olivocochlear reflex (MOCR) might be valuable as a predictor of individuals at risk for acoustic trauma or for explaining why some people have trouble understanding speech in noise. A first step in developing a clinical test for MOCR strength is to determine the range and variation of MOCR strength in a research setting. A measure of MOCR strength near 1 kHz was made across a normal-hearing population (N = 25) by monitoring stimulus-frequency otoacoustic emissions (SFOAEs) while activating the MOCR with 60 dB SPL wideband contralateral noise. Statistically significant MOCR effects were measured in all 25 subjects; but not all SFOAE frequencies tested produced significant effects within the time allotted. To get a metric of MOCR strength, MOCR-induced changes in SFOAEs were normalized by the SFOAE amplitude obtained by two-tone suppression. We found this "normalized MOCR effect" varied across frequency and time within the same subject, sometimes with significant differences between measurements made as little as 40 Hz apart or as little as a few minutes apart. Averaging several single-frequency measures spanning 200 Hz in each subject reduced the frequency- and time-dependent variations enough to produce correlated measures indicative of the true MOCR strength near 1 kHz for each subject. The distribution of MOCR strengths, in terms of SFOAE suppression near 1 kHz, across our normal-hearing subject pool was reasonably approximated by a normal distribution with mean suppression of approximately 35% and standard deviation of approximately 12%. The range of MOCR strengths spanned a factor of 4, suggesting that whatever function the MOCR plays in hearing (e.g., enhancing signal detection in noise, reducing acoustic trauma), different people will have corresponding differences in their abilities to perform that function.

Time-course of the human medial olivocochlear reflex

The time-course of the human medial olivocochlear reflex (MOCR) was measured via its suppression of stimulus-frequency otoacoustic emissions (SFOAEs) in nine ears. MOCR effects were elicited by contralateral, ipsilateral or bilateral wideband acoustic stimulation. As a first approximation, MOCR effects increased like a saturating exponential with a time constant of 277+/-62 ms, and decayed exponentially with a time constant of 159+/-54 ms. However, in ears with the highest signal-to-noise ratios (4/9), onset time constants could be separated into "fast," tau= approximately 70 ms, "medium," tau = approximately 330 ms, and "slow," tau = approximately 25 s components, and there was an overshoot in the decay like an under-damped sinusoid. Both the buildup and decay could be modeled as a second order differential equation and the differences between the buildup and decay could be accounted for by decreasing one coefficient by a factor of 2. The reflex onset and offset delays were both approximately 25 ms. Although changing elicitor level over a 20 dB SPL range produced a consistent systematic change in response amplitude, the time course did not show a consistent dependence on elictor level, nor did the time-courses of ipsilaterally, contralaterally, and bilaterally activated MOCR responses differ significantly. Given the MOCR's time-course, it is best suited to operate on acoustic changes that persist for 100's of milliseconds.