Plasticity in Human Pitch Perception Induced by Tonotopically Mismatched Electro-Acoustic Stimulation

Lina A.J Reiss; Christopher W Turner; Sue A Karsten; Bruce J Gantz

doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.10.024

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Plasticity in Human Pitch Perception Induced by Tonotopically Mismatched Electro-Acoustic Stimulation

Journal article

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Plasticity in Human Pitch Perception Induced by Tonotopically Mismatched Electro-Acoustic Stimulation

Lina A.J Reiss, Christopher W Turner, Sue A Karsten and Bruce J Gantz

Neuroscience, Vol.256, pp.43-52

01/03/2014

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.10.024

PMCID: PMC3893921

PMID: 24157931

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http://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.10.024View

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Abstract

Under normal conditions, the acoustic pitch percept of a pure tone is determined mainly by the tonotopic place of the stimulation along the cochlea. Unlike acoustic stimulation, electric stimulation of a cochlear implant (CI) allows for the direct manipulation of the place of stimulation in human subjects. CI sound processors analyze the range of frequencies needed for speech perception and allocate portions of this range to the small number of electrodes distributed in the cochlea. Because the allocation is assigned independently of the original resonant frequency of the basilar membrane associated with the location of each electrode, CI users who have access to residual hearing in either or both ears often have tonotopic mismatches between the acoustic and electric stimulation. Here we demonstrate plasticity of place pitch representations of up to 3 octaves in Hybrid CI users after experience with combined electro-acoustic stimulation. The pitch percept evoked by single CI electrodes, measured relative to acoustic tones presented to the non-implanted ear, changed over time in directions that reduced the electro-acoustic pitch mismatch introduced by the CI programming. This trend was particularly apparent when the allocations of stimulus frequencies to electrodes were changed over time, with pitch changes even reversing direction in some subjects. These findings show that pitch plasticity can occur more rapidly and on a greater scale in the mature auditory system than previously thought possible. Overall, the results suggest that the adult auditory system can impose perceptual order on disordered arrays of inputs.

Cochlear implant

Hybrid

plasticity

pitch

electro-acoustic stimulation

tonotopic map

Details

Title: Subtitle: Plasticity in Human Pitch Perception Induced by Tonotopically Mismatched Electro-Acoustic Stimulation
Creators: Lina A.J Reiss - Department of Otolaryngology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR USA
Christopher W Turner - Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA USA
Sue A Karsten - Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA USA
Bruce J Gantz - Department of Otolaryngology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Neuroscience, Vol.256, pp.43-52
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.10.024
PMID: 24157931
PMCID: PMC3893921
NLM abbreviation: Neuroscience
ISSN: 0306-4522
eISSN: 1873-7544
Grant note: P50 DC000242 || DC / National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders : NIDCD M01 RR000059 || RR / National Center for Research Resources : NCRR R01 DC000377 || DC / National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders : NIDCD F32 DC009157 || DC / National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders : NIDCD
Language: English
Date published: 01/03/2014
Academic Unit: Communication Sciences and Disorders; Neurosurgery; Otolaryngology
Record Identifier: 9984006301002771

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