The effect of noise-induced sloping high-frequency hearing loss on the gap-response in the inferior colliculus and auditory cortex of guinea pigs

Gap detection has been used as an evaluation tool for temporal processing in subjects with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). However, the results from other reports are varied making it difficult to clearly define the impact of SNHL on the temporal processing ability of the auditory system. Specifically, we do not know if and how a high-frequency hearing loss impacts, presumably through off-channel interaction, the temporal processing in low-frequency channels where hearing sensitivity is virtually normal. In this experiment, gap-evoked responses in a low-frequency band (0.5–8 kHz) were recorded in the inferior colliculus (IC) and auditory cortex (AC) of guinea pigs through implanted electrodes, before and after a slopping high-frequency hearing loss, which was induced by over-stimulation using a 12-kHz-tone. The results showed that the gap thresholds in the low-frequency region increased gradually and became significantly higher 8 weeks after the induced high-frequency hearing loss. In addition, the response latency was slightly increased in the IC but this was not true for the AC. These results strongly indicate that a high-frequency hearing loss exerted an off-channel impact on temporal processing in the low-frequency region of the auditory system.