Seminars in Hearing Research

Date: Thursday, October 10, 2024

Location: Nelson Hall, Room 1215

Time: 12:00-1:00pm

Speaker:  Elizabeth Strickland, Professor, SLHS  

Title: The effects of preceding sound on psychoacoustic tuning curves measured in simultaneous and forward masking.

Abstract:  The medial olivocochlear reflex (MOCR) decreases the gain of the cochlear active process in response to sound. We have used psychoacoustic techniques to show behavioral effects of gain reduction, which could be consistent with the MOCR. We have used paradigms understood to measure frequency selectivity and the input/output function at the level of the cochlea using stimuli (masker and signal) that should be too short to evoke the MOCR. A precursor sound is then presented before these stimuli to evoke the MOCR. Our most recent studies have used forward masking, to avoid the complicating effects of suppression. The current study was designed to examine the effects of suppression, by comparing the effects of a precursor on frequency selectivity measured using forward masking and simultaneous masking. Psychoacoustic tuning curves were measured using simultaneous and forward masking, with and without a precursor. This allowed us to measure the change in tuning with and without the presence of suppression. Broadband precursors and tonal precursors at masker frequencies were measured because previous studies have shown broadening with broadband precursors and sharpening when tonal maskers are the precursors. Results will be discussed in the context of current understanding of the MOCR.

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The working schedule is available here: https://purdue.edu/TPAN/hearing/shrp_schedule

The titles and abstracts of the talks will be added here: https://purdue.edu/TPAN/hearing/shrp_abstracts