Predictable sequential structure augments auditory sensitivity at threshold
Nadège Marin,
Grégory Gérenton,
Hadrien Jean,
Nihaad Paraouty,
Nicolas Wallaert,
Diane S. Lazard,
Keith B. Doelling,
Luc H. Arnal
Affiliations
Nadège Marin
Université Paris Cité, Institut Pasteur, AP-HP, INSERM, CNRS, Fondation Pour l'Audition, Institut de l’Audition, IHU reConnect, 75012 Paris, France; Corresponding author
Grégory Gérenton
Université Paris Cité, Institut Pasteur, AP-HP, INSERM, CNRS, Fondation Pour l'Audition, Institut de l’Audition, IHU reConnect, 75012 Paris, France
Hadrien Jean
My Medical Assistant SAS, 51100 Reims, France
Nihaad Paraouty
My Medical Assistant SAS, 51100 Reims, France
Nicolas Wallaert
My Medical Assistant SAS, 51100 Reims, France
Diane S. Lazard
Université Paris Cité, Institut Pasteur, AP-HP, INSERM, CNRS, Fondation Pour l'Audition, Institut de l’Audition, IHU reConnect, 75012 Paris, France; Princess Grace Hospital, ENT & Maxillo-facial Surgery Department, Monaco
Keith B. Doelling
Université Paris Cité, Institut Pasteur, AP-HP, INSERM, CNRS, Fondation Pour l'Audition, Institut de l’Audition, IHU reConnect, 75012 Paris, France; Corresponding author
Luc H. Arnal
Université Paris Cité, Institut Pasteur, AP-HP, INSERM, CNRS, Fondation Pour l'Audition, Institut de l’Audition, IHU reConnect, 75012 Paris, France
Summary: Human hearing is highly sensitive and allows us to detect acoustic events at low levels. However, sensitivity is not only a function of the integrity of cochlear transduction mechanisms but is also constrained by central processes such as attention and expectation. While the effects of distraction and attentional orienting are generally acknowledged, the extent to which probabilistic expectations influence sensitivity at threshold is not clear. Classical audiometric tests, commonly used to assess hearing thresholds, do not distinguish between bottom-up sensitivity and top-down processes. In this study, we aim to decipher the influence of various types of expectations on hearing thresholds and how this information can be used to improve the assessment of hearing sensitivity. Our results raise important questions regarding the conventional assessment of hearing thresholds, both in fundamental research and in audiological clinical assessment.
