Subject: Re: The ear dynamically adapting frequency response From: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?Jos=E9_Ignacio_Alc=E1ntara?= <jia10@xxxxxxxx> Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 17:24:47 +0000 List-Archive:<http://lists.mcgill.ca/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=AUDITORY>--Apple-Mail-135--3066402 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed; delsp=yes Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Not wishing to be pedantic, but I doubt very much whether any mobile =20 phone transducer would have a useable frequency range extending to 16 =20= kHz. But then again, 8 kHz would work just as well for presbyacustic =20= adults... And as far as I recall, significant adaption in hearing is relatively =20= rare, so much so that it used to be one of the diagnostic signs of =20 retrocochlear (e.g. acoustic neuroma) pathology. Jose On 5 Feb 2009, at 17:16, Eric Jacobs wrote: > This is completely anecdotal... > > As you know, kids like to put high frequency (16 kHz) ring tones on =20= > their cell phones so that adults (ie. authority figures) with =20 > compromised hearing cannot hear the phone ring. > > Yesterday, my son asked "why is it that I can hear the first ring =20 > loudly, but by the third or fourth ring I cannot hear it anymore?" > > I didn't have an answer, of course. But if you'd like me to =20 > investigate the phenomenon further with him, I can do that. This =20 > isn't horribly scientific, of course, but maybe useful. > > Eric > -----Original Message----- > From: AUDITORY - Research in Auditory Perception = [mailto:AUDITORY@xxxxxxxx=20 > ]On Behalf Of Mark Fletcher > Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 3:48 AM > To: AUDITORY@xxxxxxxx > Subject: The ear dynamically adapting frequency response > > Dear List > > I am investigating the possibility that the ear dynamically adapts =20 > its frequency response dependant on environment, for example, to =20 > suppress noise. My current thinking is that the mechanism for this =20 > adaptation is in the expanding and contracting of the outer hair =20 > cells, restricting or exaggerating movement of the inner hair cells =20= > at different frequencies depending on the stimuli. I would be =20 > grateful for any input anyone may have regarding this idea. > > Thanks, > > Mark > > Windows Live Hotmail just got better. Find out more! _______________________________________ Jos=E9 Ignacio Alc=E1ntara, M.A., Ph.D. University Lecturer Department of Experimental Psychology University of Cambridge Downing Street Cambridge CB2 3EB Fellow and Tutor, Director of Studies in Natural Sciences (Biological) Fitzwilliam College Storey's Way Cambridge CB3 0DG Phone: 44 (0)1223 764412 (Department) 44 (0)1223 477170 (College) Fax: 44 (0)1223 333564 Web: http://www.psychol.cam.ac.uk/lara http://hearing.psychol.cam.ac.uk ________________________________________ P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail --Apple-Mail-135--3066402 Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; = -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Not wishing to be pedantic, but = I doubt very much whether any mobile phone transducer would have a = useable frequency range extending to 16 kHz. But then again, 8 kHz = would work just as well for presbyacustic = adults...<div><br></div><div>And as far as I recall, significant = adaption in hearing is relatively rare, so much so that it used to be = one of the diagnostic signs of retrocochlear (e.g. acoustic neuroma) = pathology.<br><div><br></div><div>Jose</div><div> <br><div><div>On = 5 Feb 2009, at 17:16, Eric Jacobs wrote:</div><br = class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite"><span = class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: = rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: = normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: = normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: = 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: = 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><div class=3D"hmmessage" = style=3D"font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; "><div><span = class=3D"994450817-05022009"><font face=3D"Arial" color=3D"#0000ff">This = is completely anecdotal...</font></span></div><div><span = class=3D"994450817-05022009"><font face=3D"Arial" = color=3D"#0000ff"></font></span> </div><div><span = class=3D"994450817-05022009"><font face=3D"Arial" color=3D"#0000ff">As = you know, kids like to put high frequency (16 kHz) ring tones on their = cell phones so that adults (ie. authority figures) with compromised = hearing cannot hear the phone ring.</font></span></div><div><span = class=3D"994450817-05022009"><font face=3D"Arial" = color=3D"#0000ff"></font></span> </div><div><span = class=3D"994450817-05022009"><font face=3D"Arial" = color=3D"#0000ff">Yesterday, my son asked "why is it that I can hear the = first ring loudly, but by the third or fourth ring I cannot hear it = anymore?"</font></span></div><div><span class=3D"994450817-05022009"><font= face=3D"Arial" color=3D"#0000ff"></font></span> </div><div><span = class=3D"994450817-05022009"><font face=3D"Arial" color=3D"#0000ff">I = didn't have an answer, of course. But if you'd like me to = investigate the phenomenon further with him, I can do that. This = isn't horribly scientific, of course, but maybe = useful.</font></span></div><div><span class=3D"994450817-05022009"><font = face=3D"Arial" color=3D"#0000ff"></font></span> </div><div><span = class=3D"994450817-05022009"><font face=3D"Arial" = color=3D"#0000ff">Eric</font></span></div><blockquote><div = class=3D"OutlookMessageHeader" dir=3D"ltr" align=3D"left"><font = face=3D"Tahoma">-----Original Message-----<br><b>From:</b><span = class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span>AUDITORY - Research in = Auditory Perception [<a = href=3D"mailto:AUDITORY@xxxxxxxx">mailto:AUDITORY@xxxxxxxx</= a>]<b>On Behalf Of<span = class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>Mark = Fletcher<br><b>Sent:</b><span = class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span>Thursday, February 05, 2009 = 3:48 AM<br><b>To:</b><span class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><a= = href=3D"mailto:AUDITORY@xxxxxxxx">AUDITORY@xxxxxxxx</a><br><= b>Subject:</b><span class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span>The ear = dynamically adapting frequency response<br><br></font></div><font = size=3D"3"><font color=3D"#000000"><o:p><div style=3D"padding-right: = 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; = margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: = 0px; "><font size=3D"3"><font face=3D"Times New Roman">Dear = List<o:p></o:p></font></font></div><div style=3D"padding-right: 0px; = padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: = 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; = "><o:p><font face=3D"Times New Roman" = size=3D"3"> </font></o:p></div><div style=3D"padding-right: 0px; = padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: = 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; "><font = size=3D"3"><font face=3D"Times New Roman">I am investigating the = possibility that the ear dynamically adapts its frequency response = dependant on environment, for example, to suppress noise. My current = thinking is that the mechanism for this adaptation is in the expanding = and contracting of the outer hair cells, restricting or exaggerating = movement of the inner hair cells at different frequencies depending on = the stimuli. I would be grateful for any input anyone may have regarding = this idea.<o:p></o:p></font></font></div><div style=3D"padding-right: = 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; = margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: = 0px; "><o:p><font face=3D"Times New Roman" = size=3D"3"> </font></o:p></div><div style=3D"padding-right: 0px; = padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: = 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; "><font = size=3D"3"><font face=3D"Times New = Roman">Thanks,<o:p></o:p></font></font></div><div style=3D"padding-right: = 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; = margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: = 0px; "><o:p><font face=3D"Times New Roman" = size=3D"3"> </font></o:p></div></o:p></font></font><div = style=3D"padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; = margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: = 0px; padding-top: 0px; "><font size=3D"3"><font color=3D"#000000"><font = size=3D"3"><font face=3D"Times New = Roman">Mark</font></font></font></font></div><rte_text></rte_text><br><hr>= Windows Live Hotmail just got better.<span = class=3D"Apple-converted-space"> </span><a = href=3D"http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/windowslive/products/hotmail.a= spx" target=3D"_new">Find out = more!</a></blockquote></div></span></blockquote></div><br><div = apple-content-edited=3D"true"> <span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: = Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; = font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; = orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; = white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: = 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: = break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: = after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: = Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; = font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; = orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; = widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: = break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: = after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: = Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; = font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; = orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; = widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: = break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: = after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: = Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; = font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; = orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; = widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: = break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: = after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: = Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; = font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; = orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; = widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: = break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: = after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: = Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; = font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; = orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; = widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: = break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: = after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: = Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; = font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; = orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; = widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: = break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: = after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: = Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; = font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; = orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; = widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: = break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: = after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: = Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; = font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; = orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; = widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: = break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: = after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: = Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; = font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; = orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; = widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: = break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: = after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: = Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; = font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; = orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; = widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; = -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: = auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: = break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: = after-white-space; = "><div>_______________________________________</div><div><b><br = class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></b></div><div>Jos=E9 Ignacio = Alc=E1ntara, M.A., Ph.D.</div><div><br = class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>University = Lecturer</div><div><i><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span = class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; "><font = class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"'Times New Roman'"><font = class=3D"Apple-style-span" color=3D"#000000">Department of Experimental = Psychology</font></font></span></font></i></div><div><i><font = class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"font-size: 13px; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" = face=3D"'Times New Roman'"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" = color=3D"#000000">University of = Cambridge</font></font></span></font></i></div><div><i><font = class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"font-size: 13px; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" = face=3D"'Times New Roman'"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" = color=3D"#000000">Downing = Street</font></font></span></font></i></div><div><i><font = class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"font-size: 13px; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" = face=3D"'Times New Roman'"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" = color=3D"#000000">Cambridge CB2 = 3EB</font></font></span></font></i></div><div><br = class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>Fellow and = Tutor,</div><div>Director of Studies in Natural Sciences = (Biological)</div><div><i><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" = size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 13px; = "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"'Times New Roman'"><font = class=3D"Apple-style-span" color=3D"#000000">Fitzwilliam = College</font></font></span></font></i></div><div><i><font = class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"font-size: 13px; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" = face=3D"'Times New Roman'"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" = color=3D"#000000">Storey's = Way</font></font></span></font></i></div><div><i><font = class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"font-size: 13px; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" = face=3D"'Times New Roman'"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" = color=3D"#000000">Cambridge CB3 = 0DG</font></font></span></font></i></div><div><br = class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div><b>Phone:</b><span = class=3D"Apple-tab-span" style=3D"white-space: pre; "> </span>44 = (0)1223 764412 (Department)</div><div><span class=3D"Apple-tab-span" = style=3D"white-space: pre; "> </span>44 (0)1223 477170 = (College)</div><div><b>Fax:</b><span class=3D"Apple-tab-span" = style=3D"white-space: pre; "> </span>44 (0)1223 = 333564</div><div><b><br = class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></b></div><div><b>Web:</b><span = class=3D"Apple-tab-span" style=3D"white-space: pre; "> </span><font = class=3D"Apple-style-span" color=3D"#0000FF"><a = href=3D"http://www.psychol.cam.ac.uk/lara">http://www.psychol.cam.ac.uk/la= ra</a></font></div><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" = color=3D"#0000FF"> </font><span = class=3D"Apple-converted-space"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" = color=3D"#0000FF"> </font></span><span class=3D"Apple-tab-span" = style=3D"white-space: pre; "><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" = color=3D"#0000FF"> </font></span><font = class=3D"Apple-style-span" color=3D"#0000FF"><a = href=3D"http://hearing.psychol.cam.ac.uk">http://hearing.psychol.cam.ac.uk= </a></font></div><div>________________________________________</div></div>= </span><br class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div = style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; = -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" = style=3D"font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; "><font = size=3D"6" color=3D"green" face=3D"Webdings"><span lang=3D"NL-BE" = style=3D"font-size: 24pt; font-family: Webdings; color: green; = ">P</span></font><font face=3D"Arial"><span lang=3D"NL-BE" = style=3D"font-family: Arial; "> </span></font><font size=3D"2" = color=3D"green" face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size: 10pt; = font-family: Arial; color: green; ">Please consider the environment = before printing this e-mail</span></font></span></div></span><br = class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"></div></span><br = class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"></div></span><br = class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"></div></span><br = class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"></div></span><br = class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"></div></span><br = class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"></div></span><br = class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"></div></span><br = class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"></div></span><br = class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"></div></span><br = class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"> = </div><br></div></div></body></html>= --Apple-Mail-135--3066402--