The influence of contralateral stimulation on the frequency width of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions in humans

Spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs) were measured in humans under different auditory contralateral stimulus conditions. Different intensities of broadBand noise stimuli where used to examine the effects on upwards shifts of the SOAE and changes in the spectral width of the SOAE. These effects were compared to several other characteristics of the peak. Correlations were found between the intensities of the stimuli and the peak frequency width. The results also confirmed the relation between peak amplitudes and frequency width found in earlier research that used ear canal pressure stimuli instead of acoustic stimuli. A variety of data indicate that SOAEs are part of a system that helps to reduce acoustic trauma and lessen the masking of transients by background noise. However, much remains unknown about the system that produces these SOAEs. More research into SOAEs may not only explain more about human auditory perception, but could also provide clinical benefits.