Abstract
Various studies on medial olivocochlear (MOC) efferents have implicated it in multiple roles in the auditory system (e.g., dynamic range adaptation, masking reduction, and selective attention). This study presents a systematic simulation of inferior colliculus (IC) responses with and without electrical stimulation of the MOC. Phenomenological models of the responses of auditory nerve (AN) fibers and IC neurons were used to this end. The simulated responses were highly consistent with physiological data (replicated 3 of the 4 known rate-level responses all MOC effects—shifts, high stimulus level reduction and enhancement). Complex MOC efferent effects which were previously thought to require integration from different characteristic frequency (CF) neurons were simulated using the same frequency inhibition excitation circuitry. MOC-induced enhancing effects were found only in neurons with a CF range from 750 Hz to 2 kHz. This limited effect is indicative of the role of MOC activation on the AN responses at the stimulus offset.
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Acknowledgements
This research was supported by University Malaya Research Grants (UMRG) RP016B-13AET and RP006-13ICT from the Institute of Research Management & Monitoring (IPPP) University of Malaya as well as the Research University Grant (RU Faculty) GPF039A-2018 from the Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya. We would also like to acknowledge the insightful comments and suggestions from two anonymous reviewers in the preparation of this manuscript.
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Kwan, T.J.M., Zilany, M.S.A., Davies-Venn, E. et al. Modeling the effects of medial olivocochlear efferent stimulation at the level of the inferior colliculus. Exp Brain Res 237, 1479–1491 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-019-05511-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-019-05511-4