paper on human cochlear tuning

[Christopher Shera <shera@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear list members,

If you can forgive the shameless advertisement,*
some of you may be interested in the following paper
recently buried in an out-of-the-way location:

"Revised estimates of human cochlear tuning
from otoacoustic and behavioral measurements"
C.A. Shera, J.J. Guinan, Jr, and A.J. Oxenham
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99:3318-3323.

http://www.pnas.org/content/vol99/issue5/#PHYSIOLOGY

Abstract:

We develop an objective, noninvasive method for determining the
frequency selectivity of cochlear tuning at low and moderate sound
levels.  Applicable in humans at frequencies of 1 kHz and above, the
method is based on the measurement of stimulus-frequency otoacoustic
emissions and, unlike previous noninvasive physiological methods, does
not depend on the frequency selectivity of masking or suppression.
The otoacoustic measurements indicate that at low sound levels human
cochlear tuning is more than twice as sharp as implied by standard
behavioral studies and has a different dependence on frequency.  New
behavioral measurements designed to minimize the influence of
nonlinear effects such as suppression agree with the emission-based
values.  A comparison of cochlear tuning in cat, guinea pig, and human
indicates that, contrary to common belief, tuning in the human cochlea
is considerably sharper than that found in the other mammals. The
sharper tuning may facilitate human speech communication.

Hardcopy and/or electronic reprints available by request.

* Since publication costs of the paper in question were defrayed
in part by payment of page charges, this email message must
be marked "advertisement," in accordance with 18 U.S.C.,
section 1734.

--
Christopher Shera                               617-573-4235 voice
Eaton-Peabody Laboratory                        617-720-4408 fax
243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114-3096       http://epl.harvard.edu

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