Stronger bilateral efferent influences on cochlear biomechanical activity in musicians than in non-musicians

• Published in: Neuroscience letters Vol. 262; no. 3; pp. 167 - 170
• Main Authors: Perrot, Xavier, Micheyl, Christophe, Khalfa, Stéphanie, Lionel Collet
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 12.03.1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acoustic Stimulation; Adult; Auditory Pathways - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomechanical Phenomena; Cochlea - innervation; Cochlea - physiology; Cochlear biomechanical activity; Contralateral suppression; Descending auditory pathways; Ear and associated structures. Auditory pathways and centers. Hearing. Vocal organ. Phonation. Sound production. Echolocation; Efferent Pathways - physiology; Evoked Potentials, Auditory; Female; Functional Laterality; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Interaural efferent asymmetry; Male; Medial olivocochlear bundle; Music; Musicians; Olivary Nucleus - physiology; Otoacoustic emissions; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Interaural efferent asymmetry; Contralateral suppression; Descending auditory pathways; Medial olivocochlear bundle; Otoacoustic emissions; Musicians; Cochlear biomechanical activity; Biomechanics; Human; Otoacoustic emission; Musician; Cochlea; Auditory pathway; Olivocochlear bundle; Inner ear; Organ of hearing
• ISSN: 0304-3940; 1872-7972
• DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3940(99)00044-0

The auditory sensory end organ is under the control of the central nervous system via efferent projections. Contralateral suppression of otoacoustic emissions (acoustic signatures of the cochlear biomechanical activity) provides a non-invasive approach to assess olivocochlear efferent activity in humans. Using this approach, the present study compared professional musicians with musically-inexperienced subjects. The results revealed stronger bilateral cochlear suppression, suggesting larger efferent influences in both ears, in musicians. Furthermore, in indicating no difference in left/right asymmetry of efferent-mediated suppression between the two groups, the present findings suggest that the observed differences in olivocochlear activity reflect bilaterally-enhanced activity of the cortical auditory structures in musicians rather than differences in cerebral hemispheric asymmetry between the two groups.