ISSN:
1434-4726
Keywords:
Auditory maturation
;
Binaural interaction components
;
Auditory brainstem responses
;
Conductive hearing loss
;
Guinea pigs
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Reversible conductive hearing loss created during the first 4 weeks post partum caused marked alterations in the maturation of binaural interaction components in the auditory brainstem responses of guinea pigs. In untreated control animals all three components investigated demonstrated postnatal development in terms of latency shortening that was completed during the first 3 weeks of life. Plugging of both external ear canals caused a significant delay in the maturation of the late component DN2, where latency values of the controls were reached only 2 weeks after the end of the treatment, i.e. after 6 weeks of life. Monaural deprivation likewise led to a retarded development of peak latencies during the phase of imbalanced sensory imput. After the end of the one-sided conductive hearing loss the maturation process was markedly enhanced, even resulting in latency values for DN2 and DP1 that were significantly shorter than those of the controls. This phenomenon persisted until the end of the study period and was the case for both plugged and untreated ears in this group of animals. The time course of latencies in two other groups of experimental animals which were deprived in the same way as adults suggests that the effects observed are due to a sensitive period in the maturation process of the auditory pathway.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00179382
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