Physiological correlates of off-frequency listening

Recordings are made from inner hair cells (IHC) in the second turn of the guinea pig cochlea where characteristics frequencies (CF) are approximately 4000 Hz. Results from experiments using two stimulus inputs suggest that the characterization of two-tone suppression at this more-basal recording location is similar to that reported for IHCs in the third cochlear turn (Cheatham and Dallos, 1989, 1990a, 1990b). For example, introduction of a suppressor causes IHC frequency response functions to become narrower with the smallest magnitude reductions occurring between 1 2 to 1 octave below CF. In this frequency region, where suppression is minimal, it was also observed that suppressor magnitude was reduced by the probe. In other words, the mutual suppression of probe and suppressor may contribute to the sharpening of these functions. Since the peak of the frequency response function shifts to a lower frequency in the presence of the suppressor, these results may provide a physiological correlate of the psychophysical phenomenon known as ‘off-frequency listening’.