Acoustically responsive fibers in the mammalian vestibular nerve

摘要: There are afferent fibers in the vestibular nerve of cats and guinea pigs that respond to sound at levels within normal range hearing. Most acoustically responsive inferior have irregular spontaneous activity, although not as cochlear afferents. Single‐fiber labeling shows responsive, irregularly discharging (ARID) originate saccule. ARID traced centrally arborized extensively nuclei ventromedial nucleus. had broad, V‐shaped tuning curves with best frequencies between 500 1000 Hz, thresholds 90 dB SPL or more, shapes comparable tuning‐curve tails synchronized a preferred phase tone cycle approximately 10 lower than their firing‐rate threshold. spike rates increased monotonically level without saturating 115 SPL. Acoustic clicks evoked spikes minimum latencies less 1.0 ms. Contraction middle‐ear muscles decreased responses sound, consistent transmission path being through middle ear. In summary, there is strong evidence mammalian saccule responds sends acoustic information central nervous system. [Work supported by NIDCD RO1DC00235.]