title: Evaluating multipulse integration as a neural-health correlate in human cochlear-implant users: Relationship to forward-masking recovery.
abstract: The present study evaluated the slopes of threshold-versus-pulse-rate functions (multipulse integration, MPI) in humans with cochlear implants in relation to recovery from 300-ms forward maskers. MPI has been correlated with spiral ganglion cell density in animals. The present study showed that steeper MPI functions were correlated with faster recovery from forward masking. The findings suggested that the variations in the MPI slopes are explained not only by the quantity of neurons contributing to the integration process but also by the neurons' temporal response characteristics and possibly central inhibition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27834, USA zhoun@ecu.edu.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-5616, USA bpfingst@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Bryan E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Pfingst
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D001299:Audiometry; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D001307:Auditory Perception; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006801:Humans; D009433:Neural Inhibition; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011571:Psychoacoustics; D017603:Signal Detection, Psychological; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013997:Time Factors