Low-frequency sound can awaken silent inner ears to emit spontaneous tones
Evidence
After LF sound stimulation, 56 of these 80 SOAEs increased in both sound level and frequency. This increase was followed by a decrease of both level and frequency relative to pre-exposure (see Fig. 2a ). — Dijk, Pim van, Physiology, Psychoacoustics and…, 3703 (
#expands, via linked claim)
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: A normal-sounding ear is internally a sound source audible in the closed canal; The cochlea actively amplifies sound and emits echoes that reveal inner-ear health; Healthy ears continuously emit faint spontaneous sounds linked to frequency sensitivity (+8 more)
Broader Connections
- Low-frequency sound exposure triggers long-lasting damped oscillations in spontaneous otoacoustic emissions.
#expands(0.92) — Dijk, Pim van, Physiology, Psychoacoustics and…, 3703 - The ear generates phantom low tones absent from the actual signal
#expands(0.80) - Brief low-frequency tones can temporarily boost then depress hearing thresholds
#expands(0.78) - Tinnitus arises when the cochlea spontaneously generates its own noise
#exemplifies(0.75) — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 664 - Low-frequency sound triggers larger cochlear responses than comparable higher frequencies.
#expands(0.72) — Dijk, Pim van, Physiology, Psychoacoustics and…, 3704