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Neural Correlates of the Binaural Masking Level Difference in Human Frequency-Following Responses

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Abstract

The binaural masking level difference (BMLD) is an auditory phenomenon where binaural tone-in-noise detection is improved when the phase of either signal or noise is inverted in one of the ears (SπNo or SoNπ, respectively), relative to detection when signal and noise are in identical phase at each ear (SoNo). Processing related to BMLDs and interaural time differences has been confirmed in the auditory brainstem of non-human mammals; in the human auditory brainstem, phase-locked neural responses elicited by BMLD stimuli have not been systematically examined across signal-to-noise ratio. Behavioral and physiological testing was performed in three binaural stimulus conditions: SoNo, SπNo, and SoNπ. BMLDs at 500 Hz were obtained from 14 young, normal-hearing adults (ages 21–26). Physiological BMLDs used the frequency-following response (FFR), a scalp-recorded auditory evoked potential dependent on sustained phase-locked neural activity; FFR tone-in-noise detection thresholds were used to calculate physiological BMLDs. FFR BMLDs were significantly smaller (poorer) than behavioral BMLDs, and FFR BMLDs did not reflect a physiological release from masking, on average. Raw FFR amplitude showed substantial reductions in the SπNo condition relative to SoNo and SoNπ conditions, consistent with negative effects of phase summation from left and right ear FFRs. FFR amplitude differences between stimulus conditions (e.g., SoNo amplitude–SπNo amplitude) were significantly predictive of behavioral SπNo BMLDs; individuals with larger amplitude differences had larger (better) behavioral B MLDs and individuals with smaller amplitude differences had smaller (poorer) behavioral B MLDs. These data indicate a role for sustained phase-locked neural activity in BMLDs of humans and are the first to show predictive relationships between behavioral BMLDs and human brainstem responses.

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Abbreviations

BMLD:

Binaural masking level difference

FFR:

Frequency-following response

P(C):

Proportion correct

SNR:

Signal-to-noise ratio

BAEP:

Brainstem auditory evoked potential

MSO:

Medial superior olive

IC:

Inferior colliculus

ITD:

Interaural time difference

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this experiment was provided, in part, by a research grant from James Madison University’s College of Health and Behavioral Studies (CGC). Non-financial support was provided by NIH-NIDCD #U24 DC012079, which provided no direct or indirect funds to support this research. The authors also wish to thank several anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments.

Author’s Contributions

CC and SH designed the research. CC, SH, and MS performed research. CC and SH analyzed data. CC and SH wrote the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, James Madison University, 235 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, MSC 4304, Harrisonburg, VA, 22807, USA

    Christopher G. Clinard, Sarah L. Hodgson & Mary Ellen Scherer

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  1. Christopher G. Clinard
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  2. Sarah L. Hodgson
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  3. Mary Ellen Scherer
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Correspondence to Christopher G. Clinard.

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All methods and procedures used in this study were approved and in accordance with the International Review Board at James Madison University.

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Clinard, C.G., Hodgson, S.L. & Scherer, M.E. Neural Correlates of the Binaural Masking Level Difference in Human Frequency-Following Responses. JARO 18, 355–369 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10162-016-0603-7

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