Ultrasonic hearing in humans: applications for tinnitus treatment.
Masking of tinnitus is possible using high audio frequencies and low-frequency ultrasound. The mechanisms involved in reception and perception of both audio frequencies and ultrasound are identical, with the exception that ultrasound interacts with an intermediary site, the brain. We proposed brain ultrasonic demodulation as the means of place-mapping ultrasound on the first few millimeters of the basilar membrane. We present modeling and psychoacoustic data in support of this theory.
Lenhardt
Martin L
ML
Departments of Otolaryngology and Emergency Medicine, Box 980168, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0168, USA. lenhardt@mail2.vcu.edu
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000145:classification; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D003051:Cochlea / Q000502:physiology; D006316:Hearing Loss, High-Frequency / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D010898:Pitch Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013017:Sound Localization / Q000502:physiology; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000628:therapy*; D014465:Ultrasonics