Accurate binaural mirroring of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions suggests influence of time-locking in medial efferents.

Spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs) of nearly identical acoustic frequency in both ears are a common observation, but it is unknown if this binaural mirroring effect is random, artefactual, genetic, developmental, or of other origin. The available raw data of all human SOAE surveys were pooled, and the intervals of all possible binaural emission pairs (N = 9555) were listed according to size on the Cent-scale (1 Cent = 1/100 semitone = 1/1200 octave). Statistical analysis showed (1) a slight broad-band mirroring in the 0-100 Cent range (P < 0.05), and (2) a strong narrow-band mirroring (NBM) in the 0-20 Cent range (P < 0.001). Negative results in a detailed SOAE cluster detection program excluded experimental artefacts as causes of NBM. Analysis of the large subgroup of twin data excluded genetic and intrauterine developmental causes. Systemic developmental causes are unrealistic, as 20 Cent corresponds to only approximately 80 microm on the cochlear map. Analysis of infant data indicated that the effect may be introduced after birth by secondary factors. Interaural crosstalk was examined but had to be rejected. It is suggested that bilaterally spreading period information in the medial olivocochlear system influences outer hair cells of the same best frequency in both ears very similarly. Evidence concerning possible effects on electromotility is discussed, and experimental tests are proposed.