The role of medial olivocochlear activity in contralateral suppression of auditory steady-state responses

Abstract

Objective: The auditory steady-state response (ASSR) amplitudes fall in the presence of contralateral noise. However, whether and to what extent medial olivocochlear (MOC) activity involves in contralateral suppression of ASSR remain unclear. Therefore, we assess the role of MOC activity in contralateral suppression of ASSR. Methods: Mice were treated with strychnine to completely eliminate MOC activity and then measured ASSR amplitudes in the presence of contralateral noise. Results: The contralateral noise reduces ASSR amplitudes at some stimulus intensity. After treating with the strychnine to eliminate MOC activity, ASSR amplitudes recovered again. Conclusions: MOC activity participated in contralateral suppression of ASSR.