Biasing of the Summating Potentials

Abstract

Summating potentials (SP) were recorded in the guinea pig cochlea, utilizing the differential-electrode technique. The effects of biasing the cochlear partition on the SP were observed under three different conditions: 1. electrical biasing—direct current polarization; 2. stimulus biasing—mechanical bias induced by low frequency sound stimulation, 3. COCB biasing— electrical stimulation of the crossed olivo-cochlear bundle. All three forms of biasing were found to have similar effects on the SP which can be described in terms of the “absolute direction of change” in the potential. Under negative current (scala vestibuli negative; scala tympani positive), the negative phase of the stimulus bias (deflection of the cochlear partition towards scala vestibuli), or stimulation of the COCB, the SP is made more positive or less negative, as the case may be. In other words, the negative component of the differentially recorded SP is depressed, whereas the positive component is enhanced. The dominant influence of all three forms of biasing appears to be on mechanoelectric distortion arising in the hair-cell transduction process.