title: Threshold sensitivity of the auditory pathway: effects of worsening signal-to-noise ratio in the auditory nerve.
abstract: Perfusions of scala tympani with high potassium solutions increase spontaneous activity of auditory nerve fibres without affecting their threshold sensitivity. In these circumstances, however, the signal-to-noise ratio of the auditory nerve response to a given stimuli is worsened. Recordings from cochlear nucleus neurones during such perfusions indicate that this worsening is critical for threshold sensitivity at higher levels in the auditory pathway.
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000818:Animals; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology; D010477:Perfusion; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D012533:Scala Tympani; D000159:Vestibulocochlear Nerve / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium