The efferent reflex may improve speech-in-noise coding by restoring neural dynamic range

Evidence

A more widely accepted role is that the MOCR possibly facilitates understanding speech in noisy environments. This idea is based on the fact that MOC efferent activation restores the dynamic range of auditory nerve fibre responses in noisy backgrounds to values observed in quiet (Fig. 5 in Guinan 2006 ), something that probably improves the neural coding of speech embedded in noise (Brown et al. 2010 ; Chintanpalli et al. 2012 ; Clark et al. 2012 ). The evidence in support for this unmasking role of the MOCR during natural listening is, however, still indirect (Kim et al. 2006 ). — Dijk, Pim van, Physiology, Psychoacoustics and…, 1939

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Dijk, Pim van, Physiology, Psychoacoustics and…, 1939