Existe um sistema que funciona de acordo com o modelo de Jeffress nas vias auditivas de mamíferos?

Abstract

Different models have been proposed for the determination of the neural mechanisms involved in the ability to locate sources of sound. One of the most reported in the literature is the Jeffress model (1948), which emphasizes the detection of temporal coincidences of excitatory inputs in both ears. For the present study, a detailed search for scientific papers was carried out in the main databases with the aim of determining whether this system occurs in mammals, addressing the difficulties individuals with unilateral deafness face and therapeutic practices that contribute toward neuroplasticity. According to the literature, the Jeffress model (1948) serves as the basis for the understanding of such mechanisms, for it is currently known that bilateral excitatory inputs arrive to the medial superior olive, which is responsible for comparing differences in inter-aural time. After excitation, there is a need for inhibition, which stems from the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body. Individuals with unilateral deafness have difficulty locating sounds due to the lack of binaural acoustic comparison. However, specific therapeutic practices, such as the use of an Individual Sound Amplification Device, Bone Anchored Hearing Aid or Cochlear Implant, can contribute toward neuroplasticity, thereby favoring a good prognosis.