The medial olivocochlear efferent system in humans: structure and function.
The mammalian cochlea receives innervation from the central nervous system via two efferent systems: the lateral and the medial olivocochlear bundles. Advances in cochlear physiology have clarified the origins and terminations of these fibers. However, to date, while the functional significance of lateral efferents remains totally unknown, that of medial efferents is still controversial. The peripheral effects of medial olivocochlear system activation have been described, but the role of this inhibitory feedback onto the cochlea is still unclear. This overview summarizes the main results of several psychophysiological studies performed in humans dealing with the functional significance of medial olivocochlear efferents in hearing.
Maison
S
S
Université Claude Bernard LYON 1, Laboratoire Neurosciences & Systèmes Sensoriels, UPRES-A CNRS 5020, Hôpital E Herriot, France. smaison@olfac.univ-lyon1.fr
Micheyl
C
C
Collet
L
L
D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D017626:Cochlear Nucleus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009476:Neurons, Efferent / Q000502:physiology*; D009847:Olivary Nucleus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D012022:Reflex, Acoustic / Q000502:physiology