正常和卡那霉素中毒豚鼠听觉脑干诱发反应及频率跟随反应的比较研究

通过测定阈值和频谱分析,比较了正常和卡那霉素中毒后豚鼠听觉脑干反应(ABR)及频率跟随反应(FFR)的特性.正常FFR的非线性随刺激频率的减低而增加,表现为高次谐波的出现.从频谱中基频成分的峰很容易识别FFR阈值.卡那霉素作用后,高频FFR首先受到影响,波幅下降,阈值显著升高.低频FFR受到影响较小.同一动物ABR阈值尚未变化时高频FFR的基频峰值已下降,乃至消失.实验结果表明FFR对耳毒性药物中毒反应由于其包含有频率特性比ABR更灵敏,更便于定量分析.     

豚鼠脑干听觉诱发反应的分析及建模初探

本文运用系统建模的方法,在时域和频域中分析了听觉脑干诱发反应(ABR)和听觉频率跟随反应(FFR)的实验数据,讨论了此两种反应之间即相联系又相独立的关系,及两种反应对刺激信号的线性和非线性关系。用单纯型最优化方法,对其参数进行辨识,建立一个线性传递函数和非线性函数及脉冲函数组合的模型。 整个模型在计算机上进行模拟,模拟的结果与FFR和ABR记录的数据相符。     

立体图对傅里叶频谱主次成分分析

用空间滤波方法在数字计算机上对立体图对的傅里叶频谱进行了分析。结果表明:对于深度知觉,在频率域内只要有一小段频谱就行了。这一小段约占整个通频带的10%左右,它可以是低频成份,也可以是高频成分。     

立体图对傅里叶频谱主次成分分析

用空间滤波方法在数字计算机上对立体图对的傅里叶频谱进行了分析。结果表明:对于深度知觉,在频率域内只要有一小段频谱就行了。这一小段约占整个通频带的10%左右,它可以是低频成份,也可以是高频成分。     

大鼠心率变异性频谱中高频成分的中枢机理分析

本文探讨心率变异性（ＨＲＶ）频谱中高频成分的中枢机理。对正常ＳＤ大量给予不同频率的人工通气并电刺激延髓疑核,观察ＨＲＶ频谱的改变,记录与呼吸节律同步的延髓头端腹外侧区（ｒＶＬＭ）及其周围区神经元细胞外单位放电,对ＨＲＶ和放电变异性进行相干函数分析。结果显示：（１）ＨＲＶ的高频成分的中心频率随着人工通气频率的增加而增加,呈高度线性相关,（ｒ＝０．８３,Ｐ〈０．０００１）;（２）对ｒＶＬＭ及其周围区与     

脑干听觉诱发电位的时序分析及频谱分析

本文从参数建模和频域方面对40例BAEP信号进行了分析,在参数建模方面,对正常BAEP信号建立了10阶自回归AR模型,着重分析两侧极点辐角总差和最大极点辐角,发现正常情况下两侧BAEP信号的AR模型的极点分布大致相同,极点辐角总差不超过50度,最大极点辐角范围为120～160度。在频域上,对正常BAEP信号进行了自/互功率谱分析。发现自功率谱和互功率谱在140Hz,550Hz和920Hz附近各有一个主峰,而在1.2kHz以后能量衰减很快。本文探讨了各参数的变化的生理意义,并给出了正常值的统计结果。     

多通道在体记录技术——动作电位与场电位信号处理

多通道在体记录可以同时记录到多个神经元的胞外放电信号以及对应的局部场电位的活动信号。如何对记录到的这两种电信号进行合适的处理,以确保实验结果的准确性,是运用好多通道在体记录技术的关键之一。本文旨在针对多通道在体记录的原始数据,介绍动作电位及场电位信号的常用数据处理方法。动作电位信号属于高频信号,一般用40 kHz的高速采样频率进行采集和记录。根据记录到的神经元胞外动作电位波形,运用主成分分析技术,再结合四电极记录技术的优势,可对来自记录电极周围不同空间位置的神经元放电信号进行良好的甄别,从而获得较精确的单神经元放电时间序列。而局部场电位信号属低频信号(300 Hz),一般用1 kHz的采样频率进行采集和记录。记录到的场电位原始信号需要进行数字滤波,从而分离出场电位信号中不同频率段的节律性振荡。啮齿类动物海马结构中常见的节律性振荡有动物清醒活动及快速眼动睡眠时的theta节律(4~12 Hz);清醒认知活动过程中,伴随着theta节律一起出现的gamma节律(30~80 Hz);以及清醒静止及慢波睡眠时的ripple高频振荡(100~250 Hz)。针对以上处理获得的数据,常用的后续数据分析方法有:神经元放电间隔分析、神经元放电自相关与互相关分析、以及信号的频谱分析等。     

骨导声诱发的耳声发射耳蜗图

用不同频率的短纯音骨导刺激,在7名(14耳)听力正常受试者同时记录双耳声诱发耳声发射(EOAE)。此法比单耳轮流记录省时一半。研究结果表明,EOAE 为一种窄带声,其中心频率随刺激声频率增高而增高,提示 EOAE 产生部位在接受刺激声频率对应的耳蜗部位附近。EOAE 的潜伏期与刺激强度无明显关系,但有随刺激声频率增高而变短的趋势,可能与不同频率刺激声诱发的 EOAE 在基底膜上产生的部位与鼓膜之间的距离不等有关。除1耳用4.0kHz 外,用1.0,2.0,3.0和4.0kHz 短纯音刺激在14耳全可记录到 EOAE,0.5kHz和6.0kHz 则分别在10耳和7耳记录到 EOAE。0.5—6.0kHz 短纯音诱发的 EOAE 的阈值均值连线所得的声发射耳蜗图上可见,1.0kHz 处阈值最低,而在这些受试者所测得的中耳共振频率平均值为1100±230Hz,推测1.0kHz EOAE 阈值最低与中耳的传导函数有关。本文描述的骨导双耳同时记录 EOAE 并描记声发射耳蜗图的方法可用于临床的听力客观评价。     

足月新生儿听觉脑干电反应的特性

本文工作根据北京市儿童医院临床的需要,在临床实验条件下对足月新生儿的ABR进行了测量,以期分析足月新生儿ABR的电反应特征。 新生儿听觉脑干反应(ABR)的波形是Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅴ波为主的连续波复合体;新生儿在声强80dB(HL)刺激频率20次/秒的短声刺激条件下,I、Ⅲ、Ⅴ波潜伏期大体为2.50,5.00和7.00ms;新生儿ABR潜伏期—刺激强度函数的斜率是30—60μsec/dB(声刺激强度从80到50dB(HL),声刺激频率20次/秒);新生儿ABR Ⅴ波对Ⅰ波的比率大于1.0(短声强度80dB(HL),刺激频率20次/秒);在80dB(HL)短声条件下,改变声刺激频率(从20次/秒增止100次/秒),Ⅴ波潜伏期约延长0.6—1.0ms;新生儿ABR阈值在30—60dB(HL)的范围。综上所述新生儿ABR电反应特性,可以为其听力和脑干功能的临床诊断提供可靠的指标和依据。     

CBA、BALB／c、C57BL、昆明系小鼠及豚鼠听性脑干反应阈值的检测

目的:比较CBA、BALB/c、C57BL、昆明系小鼠及豚鼠5种啮齿类动物的正常听性脑干反应(ABR)的阈值及其频率特性.方法:采用IHS SmartEP 3.91系统对4种小鼠和豚鼠的ABR进行检测和比较,使用短音(Tone-pip)作为刺激声测定其各频率的阈值及其特点,绘制各自的听觉频率-阈值的关系曲线,找出各自的最佳刺激频率.结果:五种啮齿类动物中,豚鼠的ABR阈值最低,然后依次是昆明系小鼠,CBA小鼠,BALB/c小鼠,C57BL小鼠;其ABR最佳反应阈值均为10 kHz,即在10 kHz时各自的ABR阈值最低;频率低于10 kHz时,其ABR阈值逐渐升高,高于10 kHz时,ABR阈值逐渐降低,这是五种被检测动物ABR频率-阈值的关系曲线的共同特点.结论:实验所检测的五种啮齿类动物中,豚鼠的听觉功能最好:在4种小鼠中,昆明系小鼠的听觉功能较其余小鼠的为好;这五种啮齿类动物的听觉最适刺激频率均为10 kHz,最适合的测试频率范围是8 kHz至24 kHz.     

Modulation rate transfer functions in bottlenose dolphins (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tursiops truncatus</Emphasis>) with normal hearing and high-frequency hearing loss

Envelope following responses were measured in two bottlenose dolphins in response to sinusoidal amplitude modulated tones with carrier frequencies from 20 to 60 kHz and modulation rates from 100 to 5,000 Hz. One subject had elevated hearing thresholds at higher frequencies, with threshold differences between subjects varying from ±4 dB at 20 and 30 kHz to +40 dB at 50 and 60 kHz. At each carrier frequency, evoked response amplitudes and phase angles were plotted with respect to modulation frequency to construct modulation rate transfer functions. Results showed that both subjects could follow the stimulus envelope components up to at least 2,000 Hz, regardless of carrier frequency. There were no substantial differences in modulation rate transfer functions for the two subjects suggesting that reductions in hearing sensitivity did not result in reduced temporal processing ability. In contrast to earlier studies, phase data showed group delays of approximately 3.5 ms across the tested frequency range, implying generation site(s) within the brainstem rather than the periphery at modulation rates from 100 to 1,600 Hz. This discrepancy is believed to be the result of undersampling of the modulation rate during previous phase measurements.     

Comparison of LFP-based and spike-based spectro-temporal receptive fields and cross-correlation in cat primary auditory cortex

Multi-electrode array recordings of spike and local field potential (LFP) activity were made from primary auditory cortex of 12 normal hearing, ketamine-anesthetized cats. We evaluated 259 spectro-temporal receptive fields (STRFs) and 492 frequency-tuning curves (FTCs) based on LFPs and spikes simultaneously recorded on the same electrode. We compared their characteristic frequency (CF) gradients and their cross-correlation distances. The CF gradient for spike-based FTCs was about twice that for 2-40 Hz-filtered LFP-based FTCs, indicating greatly reduced frequency selectivity for LFPs. We also present comparisons for LFPs band-pass filtered between 4-8 Hz, 8-16 Hz and 16-40 Hz, with spike-based STRFs, on the basis of their marginal frequency distributions. We find on average a significantly larger correlation between the spike based marginal frequency distributions and those based on the 16-40 Hz filtered LFP, compared to those based on the 4-8 Hz, 8-16 Hz and 2-40 Hz filtered LFP. This suggests greater frequency specificity for the 16-40 Hz LFPs compared to those of lower frequency content. For spontaneous LFP and spike activity we evaluated 1373 pair correlations for pairs with >200 spikes in 900 s per electrode. Peak correlation-coefficient space constants were similar for the 2-40 Hz filtered LFP (5.5 mm) and the 16-40 Hz LFP (7.4 mm), whereas for spike-pair correlations it was about half that, at 3.2 mm. Comparing spike-pairs with 2-40 Hz (and 16-40 Hz) LFP-pair correlations showed that about 16% (9%) of the variance in the spike-pair correlations could be explained from LFP-pair correlations recorded on the same electrodes within the same electrode array. This larger correlation distance combined with the reduced CF gradient and much broader frequency selectivity suggests that LFPs are not a substitute for spike activity in primary auditory cortex.     

Hearing of old world monkeys (Cercopithecinae)

The characteristics of normal hearing were examined in the laboratory for seven species of Old World monkeys. Operant conditioning procedures, coupled with standard audiometric testing methods, were used to assess thresholds of hearing, frequency range of hearing, and differential sensitivity to auditory intensity and frequency. To produce tonal stimulation, an animal was trained to touch and maintain manual contact with a contact-sensitive key and to report hearing the tone by lifting his hand from the key; this response was followed by food reinforcement. When the reporting response occurred without the auditory signal, the animal was punished by a short suspension from the experiment. Additional contingencies were added to ensure stable and reliable responding, and threshold and differential acuity determinations were then made. Threshold was defined as the stimulus value responded to correctly 50% of the time. The frequency range of hearing of all the cercopithecoids tested extended from 60 to 40,000 Hz, an octave above the upper bound of 20,000 Hz for man but well below the 60–70,000 Hz limit for some prosimians. Absolute sensitivity for tonal stimulation in the most sensitive frequency range (1–8 kHz) was about 2 × 10^?4 microbars, comparable to that of other primates tested, including man. Thus, the Old World monkey appears only slightly less sensitive than man to small changes in intensity and frequency of acoustic stimulation. At 1000 Hz at 60 dB above the threshold of audibility, his limit of resolution is about 5 Hz for frequency and 2 dB for intensity.     

Ups and Downs of Viagra: Revisiting Ototoxicity in the Mouse Model

Sildenafil citrate (Viagra), a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE5i), is a commonly prescribed drug for erectile dysfunction. Since the introduction of Viagra in 1997, several case reports have linked Viagra to sudden sensorineural hearing loss. However, these studies are not well controlled for confounding factors, such as age and noise-induced hearing loss and none of these reports are based on prospective double-blind studies. Further, animal studies report contradictory data. For example, one study (2008) reported hearing loss in rats after long-term and high-dose exposure to sildenafil citrate. The other study (2012) showed vardenafil, another formulation of PDE5i, to be protective against noise-induced hearing loss in mice and rats. Whether or not clinically relevant doses of sildenafil citrate cause hearing loss in normal subjects (animals or humans) is controversial. One possibility is that PDE5i exacerbates age-related susceptibility to hearing loss in adults. Therefore, we tested sildenafil citrate in C57BL/6J, a strain of mice that displays increased susceptibility to age-related hearing loss, and compared the results to those obtained from the FVB/N, a strain of mice with no predisposition to hearing loss. Six-week-old mice were injected with the maximum tolerated dose of sildenafil citrate (10 mg/kg/day) or saline for 30 days. Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were recorded pre- and post injection time points to assess hearing loss. Entry of sildenafil citrate in the mouse cochlea was confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis of a downstream target of the cGMP-PKG cascade. ABR data indicated no statistically significant difference in hearing between treated and untreated mice in both backgrounds. Results show that the maximum tolerated dose of sildenafil citrate administered daily for 4 weeks does not affect hearing in the mouse. Our study gives no indication that Viagra will negatively impact hearing and it emphasizes the need to revisit the issue of Viagra related ototoxicity in humans.     

Pitch related to spectral edges of broadband signals.

A complex tone often evokes a pitch sensation associated with its extreme spectral components, besides the holistic pitch associated with its fundamental frequency. We studied the edge pitch created at the upper spectral edge of complexes with a low-pass spectrum by asking subjects to adjust the frequency of a sinusoidal comparison tone to the perceived pitch. Measurements were performed for different values of the fundamental frequency and of the upper frequency of the complex as well as for three different phase relations of the harmonic components. For a wide range of these parameters the subjects could adjust the comparison tone with a high accuracy, measured as the standard deviation of repeated adjustments, to a frequency close to the nominal edge frequency. The detailed dependence of the matching accuracy on temporal parameters of the harmonic complexes suggests that the perception of the edge pitch in harmonic signals is related to the temporal resolution of the hearing system. This resolution depends primarily on the time constants of basilar-membrane filters and on additional limitations due to neuronal processes.     

A comparative study of hearing ability in fishes: the auditory brainstem response approach

Auditory brainstem response (ABR) techniques, an electrophysiological far-field recording method widely used in clinical evaluation of human hearing, were adapted for fishes to overcome the major limitations of traditional behavioral and electrophysiological methods (e.g., invasive surgery, lengthy training of fishes, etc.) used for fish hearing research. Responses to clicks and tone bursts of different frequencies and amplitudes were recorded with cutaneous electrodes. To evaluate the effectiveness of this method, the auditory sensitivity of a hearing specialist (goldfish, Carassius auratus) and a hearing generalist (oscar, Astronotus ocellatus) was investigated and compared to audiograms obtained through psychophysical methods. The ABRs could be obtained between 100 Hz and 2000 Hz (oscar), and up to 5000 Hz (goldfish). The ABR audiograms are similar to those obtained by behavioral methods in both species. The ABR audiogram of curarized (i.e., Flaxedil-treated) goldfish did not differ significantly from two previously published behavioral curves but was lower than that obtained from uncurarized fish. In the oscar, ABR audiometry resulted in lower thresholds and a larger bandwidth than observed in behavioral tests. Comparison between methods revealed the advantages of this technique: rapid evaluation of hearing in untrained fishes, and no limitations on repeated testing of animals. Accepted: 8 August 1997     

Detection of low‐frequency tones and whale predator sounds by the American sand lance Ammodytes americanus

Auditory evoked potentials (AEP) were used to measure the hearing range and auditory sensitivity of the American sand lance Ammodytes americanus. Responses to amplitude‐modulated tone pips indicated that the hearing range extended from 50 to 400 Hz. Sound pressure thresholds were lowest between 200 and 400 Hz. Particle acceleration thresholds showed an improved sensitivity notch at 200 Hz but not substantial differences between frequencies and only a slight improvement in hearing abilities at lower frequencies. The hearing range was similar to Pacific sand lance Ammodytes personatus and variations between species may be due to differences in threshold evaluation methods. AEPs were also recorded in response to pulsed sounds simulating humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae foraging vocalizations termed megapclicks. Responses were generated with pulses containing significant energy below 400 Hz. No responses were recorded using pulses with peak energy above 400 Hz. These results show that A. americanus can detect the particle motion component of low‐frequency tones and pulse sounds, including those similar to the low‐frequency components of megapclicks. Ammodytes americanus hearing may be used to detect environmental cues and the pulsed signals of mysticete predators.     

Hearing and communication in blue monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis)

Hearing and vocal communication in blue monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis) was studied within an ecological context. Field measurements of the acoustical characteristics of the blue monkey's natural habitat were conducted in the Kibale forest (Uganda) and in Kakamega forest (Kenya). Measurements of background noise levels indicated that vocal communication pitched in the 100–1000-Hz frequency band would be relatively unimpeded by disruptive background noises. Furthermore, measurements of the propagation rate of audio signals indicated that calls pitched in the 125–200-Hz region penetrated the forest with minimal decrement in amplitude. Tests of the blue monkey's acoustic sensitivyty and range of hearing were conducted in the laboratory with standard audiometric procedures. Hearing in the blue monkey was characterized by a U-shaped function, with maximum sensitivity of about 5 dB SPL spanning a four-octave range from 1 to 16 kHz. The hearing of blue monkeys was superior to human hearing for tones below 500 Hz and above 8 kHz in frequency. A comparative analysis of primate hearing indicated that the blue monkey was approximately 18 dB more sensitive to low-frequency tones than the comparably sized, semi-terrestrial rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). Furthermore, blue monkeys exhibit phonatory specializations for vocal production in this relatively unused, low-frequency band of 125–200 Hz. These specializations for low-frequency vocal production and low-frequency hearing collectively act to increase the effective distance of long-range acoustic communication in the forest canopy.     

Auditory brainstem responses in Cope’s gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis): effects of frequency,level, sex and size

Our knowledge of the hearing abilities of frogs and toads is largely defined by work with a few well-studied species. One way to further advance comparative work on anuran hearing would be greater use of minimally invasive electrophysiological measures, such as the auditory brainstem response (ABR). This study used the ABR evoked by tones and clicks to investigate hearing in Cope’s gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis). The objectives were to characterize the effects of sound frequency, sound pressure level, and subject sex and body size on ABRs. The ABR in gray treefrogs bore striking resemblance to ABRs measured in other animals. As stimulus level increased, ABR amplitude increased and latency decreased, and for responses to tones, these effects depended on stimulus frequency. Frequency-dependent differences in ABRs were correlated with expected differences in the tuning of two sensory end organs in the anuran inner ear (the amphibian and basilar papillae). The ABR audiogram indicated two frequency regions of increased sensitivity corresponding to the expected tuning of the two papillae. Overall, there was no effect of subject size and only small effects related to subject sex. Together, these results indicate the ABR is an effective method to study audition in anurans.