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Science 10 September 2004:
Vol. 305. no. 5690, p. 1581
DOI: 10.1126/science.1100646
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Brevia

Asymmetric Cochlear Processing Mimics Hemispheric Specialization

Y. S. Sininger1* and B. Cone-Wesson2

Otoacoustic emissions or OAEs (reflections of cochlear energy produced during the processing of sound) were measured in response to two types of stimuli, rapid clicks and sustained tones, in each ear of neonates. OAEs were larger to tones when elicited in the left ear and to clicks when elicited in the right. This finding is similar to those of enhanced processing of tones in right auditory cortical areas and of rapid stimuli on the left, given strong crossed connections from ear to brain. These findings indicate that processing at the level of the ear may facilitate lateralization of auditory function in the brain.

1 Division of Head and Neck Surgery, University of California–Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine, 62-132 Center for Health Science, Los Angeles, CA 90095–1624, USA.
2 Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, University of Arizona, Post Office Box 210071, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ysininger{at}mednet.ucla.edu

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)