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Biomedical subjects

L Collet

Publications and source records attributed to L Collet.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Influence of hyperthermia on cochlear micromechanical properties in humans.

We investigated the effect of body temperature on transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) in humans. Hyperthermic conditions were obtained in adults in a climatic chamber. During hyperthermia up to an average temperature of 38.4 degrees C, significant falls were found in total amplitude and peak values of TEOAEs: by 1.3 dB SPL/degree C and 2.3 dB/degree C, respectively. This inhibition affected all spectrum components equally. These findings indicate that the outer hair cell micromechanical activity that is presumed to be measured by TEOAEs is not independent of variations in body temperature. The reduction found in hyperthermia suggests that temperature-dependent mechanisms are involved in the generation of TEOAEs.

Adult↗

Contralateral suppression of evoked otoacoustic emissions and detection of a multi-tone complex in noise.

Although some findings suggest that auditory efferent fibers are involved in perception in noise, their function remains controversial. The contralateral suppression of evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAEs) has recently provided a means of exploring the medial olivocochlear system (MOCS) in humans. In an experiment based on this paradigm, the present study examined the relationships between variations of both EOAEs and detection-in-noise thresholds, induced in the same subjects by a contralateral 50-dB-SPL broad-band noise masker. EOAEs were recorded in response to a burst of a multitone complex composed of 1, 1.5 and 2-kHz components. The detection thresholds of this 3-component complex were measured at 2 ipsilateral noise levels: 50 and 70 dB SPL. The main finding was a significant correlation between EOAE suppression and threshold variations under contralateral masking. A relationship was also found between the contralateral suppression of EOAEs and threshold variation induced by the increase in ipsilateral noise level. These findings support the notion that the MOCS is involved in the detection of multicomponent stimuli in noise.

Adult↗

Physiopathological investigations in a family with a history of unilateral hereditary deafness.

We examined several members of the same family with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The defect showed dominant inheritance. Clinical examination and auditory tests, including high-definition audiogram and otoacoustic emission recording, were done to characterize the physiopathological process of hearing loss, and to investigate possible asymptomatic auditory features in the normal ear of affected subjects and nonaffected siblings. Hypotheses as to the underlying mechanisms are discussed, eg, variable expression of bilateral isolated hereditary deafness, incomplete Klein-Waardenburg syndrome with stria vascularis anomalies and highly variable gene expression, or unilateral cochlear aplasia. The phenomenon may also be related to the delayed progressive unilateral loss in patients with bilateral hereditary deafness, involving perhaps unilateral vascular disorders or a genetically induced degeneration of cochlear cells or auditory neurons.

Adult↗

[Sonomotor vestibular reflex in acoustic neuroma].

Despite recent advance in diagnosis and surgical techniques of acoustic neuroma, ideal criteria for hearing preservation attempt remain unsatisfactory. This study reports sonomotor vestibular reflex recorded pre and postoperatively in 20 patients with acoustic neuroma. Hearing preservation was attempted according to tumor size and preoperative pure tone audiometry results. The studied population was divided in 2 groups according to hearing preservation was attempted (group 1 n = 13, retrosigmoid approach) or not (group 2 n = 7, translabyrinthin approach). In accordance with postsurgical audition, the subjects of group 1 were distributed in group 1-A (postsurgical preserved audition n = 4) or group 1-B (postsurgical unpreserved audition n = 9). Presurgical sonomotor vestibular reflex in response to pathological stimulation were compared in the different groups. In preoperative period, sonomotor vertibular reflex in response to pathological side stimulation were present in all the patients of group 1-A with a similar amplitude to those obtained when stimulating healthy side. In 6 subjects of group 1-B these responses were present but with a smaller amplitude than those obtained when stimulating healthy side. The responses were absent in 3 subjects of group 1-B and in all the subjects of the group 2. These result tend to demonstrate that preoperative presence of sonomotor vestibular reflex in response to neuroma side stimulation with amplitude similar to those obtained by healthy side stimulation is a favorable criterion for hearing preservation attempt. On the opposite, the decrease in the amplitude of these responses or their absence seems to be unfavorable for hearing preservation attempt.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Influence of aging on active cochlear micromechanical properties and on the medial olivocochlear system in humans.

Transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) without and with contralateral acoustic stimulation (CAS), as well as distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs), were recorded on 60 subjects divided into 2 groups, the first constituted by 38 normally hearing young subjects and the second by 22 subjects aged from 70 to 88 years and with normal hearing levels in view of their age. TEOAEs and DPOAE 'audiograms' were recorded in a third group constituted by 15 subjects with ages ranging from 6 to 57 years and with hearing levels not significantly different from those of the second group for frequencies above 500 Hz. TEOAEs were present in 100% of the subjects in the first group and in 91% in the second group, although with smaller amplitude. The fall in TEOAE amplitude under CAS was smaller in the second group. Concerning DPOAE audiograms, in the first group, a response was found in 71 to 95% of cases for frequencies ranging from 1 to 6.35 kHz, and in 7 to 37% of cases in the second group. Mean amplitudes were significantly lower in the second group for frequencies ranging from 2.83 to 5.04 kHz. group for frequencies ranging from 2.83 to 5.04 kHz. Mean 'thresholds' ranged from 38.55 to 43.57 dB SPL for frequencies ranging from 1 to 6 kHz in the first group and from 50 to 58 dB SPL in the second group. No significant difference was found between the second and third groups concerning the amplitude and spectrum of the TEOAEs and DPOAE audiograms. Thus, age influences TEOAEs, DPOAEs and the effect of CAS on TEOAEs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Auditory selective attention in the human cochlea.

According to current theories, auditory selective attention alters the sensory analysis of acoustic inputs only in the central auditory system. Despite numerous attempts, no evidence of attentional selection has been found in the auditory periphery. Measurements of evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAEs) during a selective dichotic listening task showed that the EOAEs to tones in one ear had larger amplitude when attention was directed to this ear than when attention was directed to the opposite ear. The results indicate that genuine effects of auditory selective attention can be observed at the cochlear receptor.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Attention and otoacoustic emissions: a review.

The possible existence of an attention effect on the peripheral auditory system remains a controversial issue. The aim of the present study is to show the possible contribution of otoacoustic emissions towards demonstrating cognitive control of peripheral auditory processes via the auditory efferent fibers. This measurement technique allows investigation of a further part of the peripheral auditory pathways and of whether efferent fibers, presumably involved in cochlear neurosensory activity, could mediate an attention effect by the selection of auditory information.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Differential effects of visual attention on spontaneous and evoked otoacoustic emissions.

A visual task decreases evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) to an interindividually variable degree. The aim of these two studies was to assess whether the presence or absence of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAE) is involved in this variability. The first experiment investigated spontaneous otoacoustic emission (SOAE) frequency shifts during a visual attention task with a Fast Fourier Transform analysis, and found no attention effect on SOAEs. Using a larger subject pool, the second experiment concerned the attention effect on transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions and SOAE amplitude, using different measurement methods with the same visual task. The sample was composed of two groups of subjects: group A comprising subjects presenting SOAEs and group B subjects without SOAEs. A decrease in EOAE amplitude for group B during attention was observed and seems to confirm a possible influence of attention on the cochlea via the medial olivocochlear efferent system (MOES). The TEOAE amplitude of group A did not vary during attention, showing the peculiarity of this population of subjects and suggesting a different cochlear functioning.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

On the role of the olivocochlear bundle in hearing: a case study.

A young patient with normal pure-tone thresholds in both ears underwent a unilateral vestibular neurotomy in January 1992 to relieve severe vertigo ascribed to Ménière's disease. Evidence is provided that the whole vestibular nerve including the olivocochlear bundle (OCB) was sectioned. Just prior to the surgery, the patient was examined in several psychoacoustic tests involving mainly signal detection and selective attention. Over the next 20 months, he was reexamined in those same tests. The patient's ability to detect expected tones in the quiet (including audiograms) or in noise was the same as before the surgery. The one change was a marked improvement in the detection of unexpected signals in noise, which appears to reflect impaired selective attention. During those 20 months, new tests were also performed on discrimination, loudness, pitch, lateralization, and temporary threshold shift. On these tests, the only differences between the operated and unoperated ears concerned binaural diplacusis and loudness adaptation close to threshold, but these differences may well have been present prior to the surgery. Except with respect to what is probably selective attention, we uncovered no other clear role for the OCB in hearing. This outcome agrees with limited measurements on other patients, with their subjective reports, and with a number of published neurophysiological observations.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Lack of association between transiently evoked otoacoustic emission amplitude and experimentation linked-factors (repeated acoustic stimulation, cerebrospinal fluid pressure, supine and sitting positions, alertness level).

Changes in transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) occur during sleep and during tasks requiring attention. This can be due to a central nervous system effect on the cochlea. But, an additional or dominant influence by non-controlled factors is possible. In this paper, the effect of click-stimulus repetition, lying and sitting positions, state of alertness (awake or asleep) and CSF pressure variation on TEOAE features were studied. None of these factors affected TEOAE amplitude. In 2 subjects, TEOAE amplitude increased considerably during the night while remaining stable in 7 subjects during daytime sleep. This may be due to circadian variations of TEOAE amplitude.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Can synchronized otoacoustic emissions really be attributed to SOAEs?

In this study, spontaneous and transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs and TOAEs, respectively) were recorded in 15 normal-hearing subjects. An analysis of the TOAE spectrum was performed with three time intervals: 20 ms-40 ms, 40 ms-60 ms, 60 ms-80 ms (the spectra found are labelled TOAE2-4, TOAE4-6, TOAE6-8). The frequencies of the peaks observed were compared to the SOAE frequencies. We found that 78.8% of the TOAE peaks also were observed as SOAEs and 91.2% of the SOAE peaks were recorded in the TOAE2-4 spectrum. Peaks that were not observed by either method had lower amplitude than the others, and SOAE peaks that were not in TOAE2-4 spectrum had higher frequencies than those that were observed in the TOAE2-4 spectrum. We conclude that the TOAE spectrum recorded after 20 ms does not include all of the SOAE frequencies and is not composed solely of SOAEs. Therefore, frequencies exist which are synchronized specifically to the stimulus and SOAEs exist which can't be synchronized more than 20 ms.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Interrelations between psychoacoustical tuning curves and spontaneous and evoked otoacoustic emissions.

With the hypothesis that cochlear active mechanisms are the origin of otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) and of the high frequency selectivity exhibited by the ear, psychoacoustical tuning curves (PTCs), transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs), and spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs) have been examined in 50 normal hearing subjects. Using a clinical simplified method, PTCs were successively assessed at three frequencies--1, 2 and 4 kHz--in each subject. The results showed the existence of significant differences in the quality of tuning (Q10dB) of the PTCs between, first, subjects having SOAEs and subjects having no SOAEs (Student's t-test; p < 0.05; df = 35) and, second, subjects having large TEOAEs and subjects having small TEOAEs (Student's t-test; p < 0.05; df = 14). Nevertheless, these significant differences did not appear for all the frequencies studied: the frequency selective relationship between PTCs and OAEs mainly involved the 2 kHz zone. Such results are discussed according to the specificities of the clinical method used for PTC measurement as well as to the spectral characteristics of OAEs.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Is the test of medial efferent system function a relevant investigation in tinnitus?

The present results are drawn from preliminary observations made in 28 patients suffering from unilateral, permanent, non-pulsatile tinnitus, who were systematically submitted to an investigation of their otoacoustic emissions in both ears. Spontaneous otoemissions (SOAE) were carefully looked for, before recording of transient evoked otoemissions (TEOAE). The effectiveness of the medial olivo-cochlear efferent system (MOC) was also tested. The comparison between TEOAE input/output curves obtained with and without contralateral stimulation allowed a global assessment of the functioning of MOC. Additional information relating to the MOC functioning at the precise frequency of tinnitus and/or around it, was available from the comparison of analogous curves obtained using distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) instead of TEOAEs. The results show that: (1) when the amplitude of otoacoustic emissions differs between the two ears, the tinnitus is generally lateralized on the side where amplitude was the lowest, which seems to be related to a greater hearing loss; (2) no general law concerning tinnitus can be drawn from the global testing of MOC functioning; the only result is that the slope of TEOAE input/output function appears as a deciding factor for efficiency of MOC, the least efficiency almost always occurring on the side where the slope is greater, and (3) even in the case of proved global effectiveness of MOC activation, there is, at least in the vicinity and in at least one ear, a part of the cochlea where its functioning is altered. A better comprehension of the mechanisms underlying this symptom will probably come from exhaustive exploration of individual cases rather than a rougher investigation of large samples in which different aetiologies are likely to be mixed.

Adult↗

Transiently evoked otoacoustic emission amplitudes change with changes of directed attention.

The effect of a visual and of an auditory task on the cochlea was studied by transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs). TEOAE amplitude decreased during visual and auditory attention for all 13 subjects tested. The decreased TEOAE activity was noted predominantly within the 960 to 1920 Hz range during visual attention and within the 1920-2880 Hz range during auditory attention. Selective attention, by way of the olivocochlear medial efferent system, modifies cochlear micromechanical properties. Visual and auditory attention act on different areas of the cochlear partition.

Adult↗

Effect of contralateral sound stimulation on the distortion product 2f1-f2 in humans: evidence of a frequency specificity.

The frequency characteristics of the suppression by contralateral stimulations, of the cubic 2f1-f2 distortion products (DPOAEs), were studied during 63 sessions performed in 39 humans with normal hearing. Each session consisted of exposure to five successive series of randomized contralateral NBN frequencies centered between 0.25 and 8 kHz, while measuring 2f1-f2 set at one of the four studied frequencies, i.e., 1, 2, 3 or 5 kHz. For each value of 2f1-f2, analysis of variance and Student's t-test were used in order to indicate and, if necessary, to localize, a possible significant frequency specificity. Results showed that the suppression exerted on 2f1-f2 DPOAEs by contralateral sound stimulation, is frequency specific, at least for middle frequencies of 1 and 2 kHz. The frequency specificity is specially marked when 2f1-f2 = 1 kHz with contralateral NBN central frequencies around 1 kHz. When 2f1-f2 = 2 kHz, central frequencies which induced a significant suppressive effect include frequencies around 2 kHz and also lower frequencies around 1 kHz. These observations support the interpretation that the suppression of the DPOAE is mediated by the medial olivo-cochlear efferent system.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Contralateral auditory stimulation alters acoustic distortion products in humans.

It is now generally accepted that otoacoustic emissions (OAE) represent the only objective and non-intrusive means of functional exploration of the active micromechanical characteristics of the outer hair cells of the organ of Corti. Previous studies showed a decrease of the transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions and spontaneous otoacoustic emissions in humans, during acoustic stimulation of the contralateral ear, and attributed this effect to the medial efferent system. Such an effect has been shown on acoustic distortion product otoacoustic distortion emissions (DPOAE) in guinea pigs, but has not been investigated for DPOAEs recorded in humans, although DPOAEs represent the easiest means of exploring active micromechanical cochlear properties both in humans and in laboratory animals. The present study sought to investigate the existence and characteristics of a contralateral auditory stimulation effect on DPOAEs recorded in humans. This study shows that contralateral broad-band noise (BBN) has a suppressive effect on DPOAEs recorded from 0.5 kHz to 5 kHz. This effect is not due to air conduction, as no change in the noise floor occurred under increasing contralateral stimulation, and as no reduction in DPOAE amplitude was obtained in subjects whose contralateral ear was sealed with a plastic ear plug. Moreover, cross-over attenuation by bone transmission has been ruled out, as no change in DPOAE amplitude was recorded in the healthy ear of total unilaterally deaf patients during acoustic stimulation of the deaf ear. The effect seen was not entirely due to the acoustic reflex, as it was found and could indeed be even greater in subjects with no acoustic reflex. Results presented here show that the contralateral BBN effect is greater at low levels of ipsilateral stimulation, which leads us to discuss the involvement of both passive and active mechanisms in DPOAE generation at high stimulation levels. The contralateral BBN effect seems to be greater in mid frequency cochlear regions. There is strong evidence that the medial efferent system is involved and that afferent and efferent inputs are, at least partly, integrated at a brainstem level in order to ensure cochlear interaction. DPOAEs provide an interesting model for functional exploration of the efferent system, since they seem to be the only type of otoacoustic emission that can be recorded in both humans and in the majority of animals, and since results are obtained in the same way from both animals and humans, which allows experimental animal models very close to the human model.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗