Cochlear back-propagating waves create measurable emissions affecting perception

Evidence

The most striking evidence for cochlear irregularities is the presence of low-level spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs) measured in the ear canal and the systematic variation in stimulus frequency otoacoustic emissions (SFOAEs), both of which result from back-propagation of waves in the cochlea. SOAEs and SFOAEs vary greatly across individual ears and have been shown to affect behavioural thresholds, behavioural frequency selectivity and judged loudness for tones. — Dijk, Pim van, Physiology, Psychoacoustics and…, 5755

Categorization

• DEFINE: Explains what SOAEs and SFOAEs are and that they arise from backward-propagating cochlear waves.