Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Discharge patterns in the cochlear nucleus of the chinchilla following noise induced asymptotic threshold shift

  • Published:
Experimental Brain Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Chinchillas were exposed to an 86 dB SPL octave band of noise centered at 4.0 kHz for 3.5–5 days. The noise elevated the hearing thresholds between 4.0 and 16.0 kHz to between 60 and 75 dB SPL. Measurements from single neurons in the cochlear nucleus revealed abnormalities in the response properties of neurons with characteristic frequencies (CF) above 2.0 kHz. Units above 2.0 kHz had elevated thresholds (between 50 and 90 dB SPL) and broad tuning curves due to a greater loss in sensitivity near CF than at lower frequencies. The tuning curve Q10dB values for high frequency neurons were generally less than 3.0 and approached the Q10dB values for basilar membrane displacement. Spontaneous activity rates in units above 2.0 kHz were also low. In a few units, the threshold for single tone inhibition was significantly lower than that for excitation; the best inhibitory frequencies were always below 2.0 kHz. Two-tone inhibition was present in both low and high threshold neurons, but its strength was not assessed. Cochleagrams obtained 12 hours postexposure revealed discrete hair cell lesions in the basal third of the cochlea. The locations of the lesions were consistent with the frequencies of maximum hearing loss. The behavioral thresholds and the thresholds at CF of the most sensitive units were within 10–15 dB of each other. The results indicate that intense sounds reduce the sensitivity, frequency selectivity and spontaneous activity of units in the cochlear nucleus. The findings are similar to those obtained in auditory nerve fibers with ototoxic drugs and hypoxia.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atherley, G.R.C., Hempstock, T.I., Noble, W.G.: Study of tinnitus induced temporarily by noise. J. acoust. Soc. Amer. 44, 1503–1506 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bekesy, G. von: Über die mechanische Frequenzanalyse in der Schnecke verschiedener Tiere. Akust. Z. 9, 3–11 (1944)

    Google Scholar 

  • Benitez, L.D., Eldredge, D.H., Templer, J.W.: Temporary threshold shifts in chinchilla: Electrophysiological correlates. J. acoust. Soc. Amer. 52, 1115–1123 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bismark, G. von: The sound pressure transformation from free-field to the eardrum of the chinchilla. M.S. Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1967)

  • Bohne, B.: Healing of the noise-damaged inner ear. In: Hearing and Davis: Essays Honoring Hallowell Davis (eds. S.K. Hirsh, D.H. Eldredge, I.J. Hirsh and S.R. Silverman). St. Louis: Washington Univ. Press 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Bohne, B., Eldgredge, D.H., Mills, J.H.: Cochlear potentials and electron microscopy applied to the study of small cochlear lesions. Ann. oto-rhino-laryng. 82, 595–608 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, H., Morgan, C.T., Hawkins, J.E., Galambos, R., Smith, F.W.: Temporary deafness following exposure to loud tones and noise. Acta oto-laryng. (Stockh.) Suppl. 88 (1950)

  • Durrant, J.D.: Effects of noise on cochlear potentials. Proceedings of the international noise symposium: The Effects of Noise on Hearing: Critical Issues (eds. D. Henderson, R. Hamernik, D. Dosanjh and J. Mills). New York: Raven Press 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Eldredge, D.H., Mills, J.H., Bohne, B.A.: Anatomical, behavioral and electrophysiological observations on chinchillas after long exposure to noise. Advanc. oto-rhino-laryng. 20, 64–81 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, E.F.: The frequency response and other properties of single fibers in the guinea-pig cochlear nerve. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 226, 263–287 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, E.F.: The sharpening of cochlear frequency selectivity in the normal and abnormal cochlea. Audiol. 14, 419–422 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, E.F., Nelson, P.G.: The response of single neurons in the cochlear nucleus of the cat as a function of their location and the anasthetic state. Exp. Brain Res. 17, 402–427 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Feldman, H.: Tinnitus and contralateral masking. Audiol. 10, 138–144 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenwood, D.D., Maryuama, N.: Excitatory and inhibitory response areas of auditory neurons in the cochlear nucleus. J. Neurophysiol. 28, 863–892 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamernik, R.P., Henderson, D., Sitler, R. W.: Cochlear degeneration following impulse noise exposure. Paper presented at 83rd Meeting of the Acoustical Society, Buffalo, N.Y. 1972

  • Henderson, D.H.: Temporal summation of acoustic signals by the chinchilla. J. acoust. Soc. Amer. 46, 474–475 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, D.: Cochlear nucleus firing patterns during asymptotic threshold shift. In: Hearing and Davis: Essays Honoring Hallowell Davis (eds. S.K. Hirsh, D.H. Eldredge, I. Hirsch and S.R. Silverman). St. Louis: Washington Univ. Press 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Hickling, S.: Hearing test patterns in noise induced temporary hearing loss. J. Aud. Res. 7, 63–76 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jerger, J.F.: Difference of stimulus duration on the pure tone threshold during recovery from auditory fatigue. J. acoust. Soc. Amer. 27, 121–124 (1955)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiang, N.Y.S., Liberman, M.C., Levine, R.A.: Auditory-nerve activity in cats exposed to ototoxic drugs and high-intensity sounds. Ann. Otol. (St. Louis) 85, 752–768 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiang, N.Y.S., Moxon, E.C., Levine, R.A.: Auditory-nerve activity in cats with normal and abnormal cochleas. In: Sensorineural Hearing Loss (eds. G.E. W. Wolstenholme and J. Knight). London: J. and A. Churchill 1970

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiang, N.Y.S., Pfeiffer, R.R., Warr, W.B., Backus, A.S.: Stimulus coding in the cochlear nucleus. Ann. oto-rhino-laryng. 24, 463–485 (1965a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiang, N.Y.S., Watanabe, T., Thomas, E.C., Clark, L.F.: Discharge patterns of single fibers in the cat's auditory nerve. Res. Monograph 35. Cambridge: M. I. T. Press 1965b

    Google Scholar 

  • Koerber, K.C., Pfeiffer, W.B., Kiang, N.Y.S.: Spontaneous spike discharges from single units in the cochlear nucleus after destruction of the cochlea. Exp. Neurol. 16, 119–130 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Loeb, M., Smith, R.: Relation of induced tinnitus to physical characteristics of the inducing stimuli. J. acoust. Soc. Amer. 42, 453–455 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, J.D.: Audibility curve of the chinchilla. J. acoust. Soc. Amer. 48, 513–523 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mills, J.H.: Threshold shifts produced by exposure to noise in chinchillas with noise-induced hearing losses. J. Speech Dis. 16, 700–708 (1973a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mills, J.H.: Temporary and permanent threshold shifts produced by nine-day exposures to noise. J. Speech Dis. 16, 426–438 (1973b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Misrahy, G.A., Shinabarger, E.W., Arnold, J.E.: Changes in cochlear endolymphatic oxygen availability, action potential and microphonics during and following asphyxia, hypoxia and exposure to loud sounds. J. acoust. Soc. Amer. 48, 505–512 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Møller, A.: Unit responses in the cochlear nucleus of the rat to pure tone. Acta physiol. scand. 75, 530–541 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Møller, A.: Dynamic properties of excitation and two-tone inhibition in the cochlear nucleus studied using amplitude-modulated tones. Exp. Brain Res. 25, 307–321 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsen, W.P., Tillman, T.W.: Hearing aids and sensorineural hearing loss. Ann. oto-rhino-laryng. 77, 717–726 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfeiffer, R.: Classification of response patterns of spike discharges for units in the cochlear nucleus: Tone burst stimulation. Exp. Brain Res. 1, 220–235 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell, I.J., Sellick, P.M.: Tuning properties of cochlear hair cells. Nature (Lond.) 267, 858–860 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sachs, M.B., Kiang, N.Y.S.: Two-tone inhibition in auditory nerve fibers. J. acoust. Soc. Amer. 43, 1120–1128 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Salvi, R.: Central components of the temporary threshold shift. Proceedings of the international noise symposium. The Effects of Noise on Hearing: Critical Issues (eds. D. Henderson, R. Hamernik, D. Dosanjh and J. Mills). New York: Raven Press 1976

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmeidt, R.A., Zwislocki, J.J.: Single-tone and two-tone responses of cochlear nerve fibers: Changes after kanamycin and noise treatments. J. acoust. Soc. Amer. 61, 75 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward, W.D., Selters, W., Glorig, A.: Exploratory studies on temporary threshold shift from impulses. J. acoust. Soc. Amer. 33, 781–793 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, J.P., Johnstone, J.R.: Capacitive probe measure of basilar membrane vibration. Symposium on hearing theory (1972) IPO Eindhoven, Holland, pp. 172–181 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences, State University of New York, Upstate Medical Center, 13210, Syracuse, New York, USA

    R. J. Salvi Ph.D., R. P. Hamernik & D. Henderson

Authors
  1. R. J. Salvi Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. P. Hamernik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. Henderson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Salvi, R.J., Hamernik, R.P. & Henderson, D. Discharge patterns in the cochlear nucleus of the chinchilla following noise induced asymptotic threshold shift. Exp Brain Res 32, 301–320 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238704

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238704

Key words

Search

Navigation