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Encyclopedia of Computational Neuroscience pp 1–11Cite as

Physiology and Function of Cochlear Efferents

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Synonyms

Final neurons of the descending auditory system; Medial and lateral efferents; Olivocochlear bundle; Olivocochlear efferents

Definition

Cochlear efferents are neurons that originate in the brainstem and terminate in the cochlea.

Characteristics

Anatomy

In mammals, the final descending auditory pathways to the cochlea originate in the brainstem superior olivary complex and are called “olivocochlear efferents.” They are divided into two subsystems: the medial olivocochlear (MOC) and lateral olivocochlear (LOC) efferents (Fig. 1). MOC efferents originate in the medial part of the superior olivary complex and terminate mainly on outer hair cells (OHCs). LOC efferents originate in the lateral part of the superior olivary complex and terminate mainly on the peripheral processes (dendrites) of auditory nerve fibers under inner hair cells (IHCs) (Fig. 1, bottom). Efferent fibers also have branches that innervate other structures. Both MOC and LOC neurons receive inputs from other...

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References

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  • Guinan JJ Jr (2011) Physiology of the medial and lateral olivocochlear systems. In: Ryugo DK, Fay RR, Popper AN (eds) Auditory and vestibular efferents. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, New York, pp 39–81

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Further Readings

  • Brown MC (2011) Anatomy of olivocochlear neurons. In: Ryugo DK, Fay RR, Popper AN (eds) Auditory and vestibular efferents. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, New York, pp 17–37

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  • Guinan JJ Jr (2006) Olivocochlear efferents: anatomy, physiology, function, and the measurement of efferent effects in humans. Ear Hear 27:589–607

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  • Katz E (2011) Cholinergic inhibition of hair cells. In: Ryugo DK, Fay RR, Popper AN (eds) Auditory and vestibular efferents. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, New York, pp 103–133

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  • Robles L, Delano PH (2008) Efferent system. In: Dallos P, Oertel D (eds) Audition, vol 3. Academic, San Diego, pp 423–446

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  • Sewell WF (2011) Pharmacology and neurochemistry of olivocochlear efferents. In: Ryugo DK, Fay RR, Popper AN (eds) Auditory and vestibular efferents. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, New York, pp 83–101

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eaton Peabody Laboratories, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, 243 Charles Street, 02114-3002, Boston, MA, USA

    John J. Guinan Ph.D.

Authors
  1. John J. Guinan Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to John J. Guinan Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Dieter Jaeger

  2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA

    Ranu Jung

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© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Guinan, J.J. (2013). Physiology and Function of Cochlear Efferents. In: Jaeger, D., Jung, R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Computational Neuroscience. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7320-6_431-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7320-6_431-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-7320-6

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