Title: The Dynamic Properties of the Acoustic Middle Ear Reflex in Nonanesthetized Rabbits. Quantitative Aspects of a Polysynaptic Reflex System
Abstract: Abstract The open‐loop dynamic characteristics of the total acoustic middle ear muscle reflex (m. stapedius and m. tensor tympani) and of the isolated acoustic m. tensor tympani reflex were determined in unrestrained nonanesthetized rabbits. The frequency domain transfer functions of the reflexes were calculated on the basis of the responses to the onset and the decay of tone bursts independently. These functions had lowpass character and could be described by second‐order differential equations including a transport delay. The parameters of the equations were intensity dependent. At equal stimulus intensity the isolated m. tensor tympani reflex was slower than the total reflex. When the higher threshold of the m. tensor tympani was compensated for, the difference became small. The decay of the total reflex response was considerably slower than was the onset, decay of the isolated rn. tensor tympani reflex only slightly slower than its onset. The phase shift of the transfer functions for onset was greater than for decay possibly indicating a slip in the system. The closed‐loop properties of the total reflex and those of the isolated m. stapedius reflex were found to be closely similar. In addition, it was pointed out that the reflexes are slow in consideration to the small mass of the muscles, but that the dynamic properties seem to be well adapted to suit certain features of the afferent auditory system.
Publication Year: 1972
Publication Date: 1972-11-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
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Cited By Count: 15
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