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Cochlear efferent feedback balances interaural sensitivity

Nature Neuroscience volume 9, pages 1474–1476 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Neurons in the lateral superior olive (LSO) compute sound location based on differences in interaural intensity, coded in ascending signals from the two cochleas. Unilateral destruction of the neuronal feedback from the LSO to the cochlea, the lateral olivocochlear efferents, disrupted the normal interaural correlation in response amplitudes to sounds of equal intensity. Thus, lateral olivocochlear feedback maintains the binaural balance in neural excitability required for accurate localization of sounds in space.

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Figure 1: Assessment and interpretation of brainstem lesions.
Figure 2: Unilateral cochlear de-efferentation disrupts interaural balance in neural excitability.

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Acknowledgements

Research supported by grants from the National Institute on Deafness and other Communicative Disorders: RO1 DC0188, P30 DC5209 and T32 DC0038

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, 243 Charles St., Boston, 02114, Massachusetts, USA

    Keith N Darrow, Stéphane F Maison & M Charles Liberman

  2. Division of Health Science and Technology, Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard & MIT, Cambridge, 02139, Massachusetts, USA

    Keith N Darrow & M Charles Liberman

  3. Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Stéphane F Maison & M Charles Liberman

Authors
  1. Keith N Darrow
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  2. Stéphane F Maison
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  3. M Charles Liberman
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Correspondence to M Charles Liberman.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Supplementary information

Supplementary Fig. 1

Unilateral LOC destruction caused interaural amplitude disparities corresponding to a constant percentage change at the higher stimulus levels. (PDF 549 kb)

Supplementary Methods (PDF 89 kb)

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Darrow, K., Maison, S. & Liberman, M. Cochlear efferent feedback balances interaural sensitivity. Nat Neurosci 9, 1474–1476 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1807

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