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Efferent sensory systems have emerged as major components of processing by the central nervous system. Whereas the afferent sensory systems bring environmental information into the brain, efferent systems function to monitor, sharpen, and attend selectively to certain stimuli while ignoring others. This ability of the brain to implement these functions enables the organism to make fine discriminations and to respond appropriately to environmental conditions so that survival is enhanced. Our focus will be on auditory and vestibular efferents, topics linked together by the inner ear connection.
The biological utility of the efferent system is striking. How it functions is less well understood, and with each new discovery, more questions arise. The book that is proposed here reflects our vision to share what is known on the topic by authors who actually have made the observations.
List of contents
Overview.- Olivocochlear Efferents: Structure of the medial and lateral olivocochlear systems.- Olivocochlear Efferents: Physiology of the medial and lateral olivocochlear systems.- Olivocochlear Efferents: Chemistry of the medial and lateral olivocochlear systems.- Cholinergic inhibition of hair cells in the inner ear.- Vestibular Efferents.- Development of efferent systems.- Exuberant efferent innervation of the auditory receptors.- Comparative studies of the efferent system.- Descending projections.- Efferent modulation of brainstem activity.- Efferent effects on the central auditory system.- Index.
Summary
Efferent sensory systems have emerged as major components of processing by the central nervous system. Whereas the afferent sensory systems bring environmental information into the brain, efferent systems function to monitor, sharpen, and attend selectively to certain stimuli while ignoring others. This ability of the brain to implement these functions enables the organism to make fine discriminations and to respond appropriately to environmental conditions so that survival is enhanced. Our focus will be on auditory and vestibular efferents, topics linked together by the inner ear connection.
The biological utility of the efferent system is striking. How it functions is less well understood, and with each new discovery, more questions arise. The book that is proposed here reflects our vision to share what is known on the topic by authors who actually have made the observations.
Additional text
From the book reviews:
“This is an outstanding book concerning the vestibular and cochlear systems in small animals. … this is an outstanding reference for students in physiology, hearing, psychophysics, etc. Seasoned neurophysiologists, audiologists, and advanced investigators can benefit substantially from this reference.” (Joseph J. Grenier, Amazon.com, October, 2014)
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From the book reviews:
"This is an outstanding book concerning the vestibular and cochlear systems in small animals. ... this is an outstanding reference for students in physiology, hearing, psychophysics, etc. Seasoned neurophysiologists, audiologists, and advanced investigators can benefit substantially from this reference." (Joseph J. Grenier, Amazon.com, October, 2014)
