Click-rate Induced Facilitation of the Acoustic Reflex Using Constant Number of Pulses

Abstract

This investigation was designed to evaluate acoustic reflex thresholds at various repetition rates using a constant number of clicks (constant acoustic energy). Ipsilateral acoustic reflex thresholds were obtained from 19 left ears by presenting 300 clicks at the repetition rates of 50, 100, 150, 200 and 300/s. The results showed an improvement in the acoustic reflex thresholds with an increase in the repetition rates (rate integration). Thus for the test conditions used in the study, rate-induced facilitation of the acoustic reflex thresholds can be demonstrated even if the acoustic energy in the stimuli at various rates is held constant. Greater acoustic energy at higher repetition rates is unnecessary for such facilitation.

Key Words:

• Acoustic reflex
• Temporal integration
• Temporal summation
• Spatial summation
• Post-tetanic potentiation
• Adaptation