The immediate effects of acoustic trauma on excitation and inhibition in the inferior colliculus: A Wiener-kernel analysis

This study is the first to apply Wiener-kernel analysis, complemented with SVD, to study the effects of acoustic trauma on spike trains derived from the IC. With this analysis, a reduction of inhibition and preservation of good response thresholds was shown in mid-CF units immediately after acoustic trauma. These neurons may mediate noise-induced tinnitus and/or hyperacusis. Moreover, an immediate profound high-frequency hearing loss was reflected by reduced evoked firing rates and loss of both excitation and inhibition in high-CF units.