Biomaterial Database

Frequency threshold curves and simultaneous masking functions in high-threshold, broadly-tuned, fibres of the guinea pig auditory nerve. 1984

J O Pickles

Tuning curves for simultaneous masking were measured electrophysiologically, in single fibres of the auditory nerve. The recordings were made in guinea pigs with cochlear hearing losses. The masking paradigm was an analogy of that used in the determination of psychophysical tuning curves in man. Below the probe frequency, the slope of the masking function was similar to that of the frequency-threshold curve. Here, changes in the slope of the frequency-threshold curve with hearing loss were closely mirrored by changes in the slope of the masking function. Above the probe frequency, however, the masking function for low-threshold fibres had a shallower slope than the frequency-threshold curve. When the high-frequency slope of the frequency-threshold curve became shallower with hearing loss, the changes were not mirrored in the masking function, until the threshold was raised to 70-80 dB SPL. The results are discussed in terms of the influence of cochlear nonlinearity on frequency resolution, and the vulnerability of the nonlinearity.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008144	Loudness Perception	The perceived attribute of a sound which corresponds to the physical attribute of intensity.	Loudness Perceptions,Perception, Loudness,Perceptions, Loudness
D009412	Nerve Fibers	Slender processes of NEURONS, including the AXONS and their glial envelopes (MYELIN SHEATH). Nerve fibers conduct nerve impulses to and from the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Cerebellar Mossy Fibers,Mossy Fibers, Cerebellar,Cerebellar Mossy Fiber,Mossy Fiber, Cerebellar,Nerve Fiber
D010470	Perceptual Masking	The interference of one perceptual stimulus with another causing a decrease or lessening in perceptual effectiveness.	Masking, Perceptual,Maskings, Perceptual,Perceptual Maskings
D010898	Pitch Perception	A dimension of auditory sensation varying with cycles per second of the sound stimulus.	Perception, Pitch,Perceptions, Pitch,Pitch Perceptions
D011571	Psychoacoustics	The science pertaining to the interrelationship of psychologic phenomena and the individual's response to the physical properties of sound.	Psychoacoustic
D005072	Evoked Potentials, Auditory	The electric response evoked in the CEREBRAL CORTEX by ACOUSTIC STIMULATION or stimulation of the AUDITORY PATHWAYS.	Auditory Evoked Potentials,Auditory Evoked Response,Auditory Evoked Potential,Auditory Evoked Responses,Evoked Potential, Auditory,Evoked Response, Auditory,Evoked Responses, Auditory,Potentials, Auditory Evoked
D006168	Guinea Pigs	A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research.	Cavia,Cavia porcellus,Guinea Pig,Pig, Guinea,Pigs, Guinea
D000159	Vestibulocochlear Nerve	The 8th cranial nerve. The vestibulocochlear nerve has a cochlear part (COCHLEAR NERVE) which is concerned with hearing and a vestibular part (VESTIBULAR NERVE) which mediates the sense of balance and head position. The fibers of the cochlear nerve originate from neurons of the SPIRAL GANGLION and project to the cochlear nuclei (COCHLEAR NUCLEUS). The fibers of the vestibular nerve arise from neurons of Scarpa's ganglion and project to the VESTIBULAR NUCLEI.	Cranial Nerve VIII,Eighth Cranial Nerve,Cochleovestibular Nerve,Statoacoustic Nerve,Cochleovestibular Nerves,Cranial Nerve VIIIs,Cranial Nerve, Eighth,Cranial Nerves, Eighth,Eighth Cranial Nerves,Nerve VIIIs, Cranial,Nerve, Cochleovestibular,Nerve, Eighth Cranial,Nerve, Statoacoustic,Nerve, Vestibulocochlear,Nerves, Cochleovestibular,Nerves, Eighth Cranial,Nerves, Statoacoustic,Nerves, Vestibulocochlear,Statoacoustic Nerves,VIIIs, Cranial Nerve,Vestibulocochlear Nerves
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001309	Auditory Threshold	The audibility limit of discriminating sound intensity and pitch.	Auditory Thresholds,Threshold, Auditory,Thresholds, Auditory