High-rate conditioning pulse trains in cochlear implants: dynamic range measures with sinusoidal stimuli.

The addition of a continuous, unmodulated, high-rate pulse train to the electrical signals of cochlear implant recipients results in statistically significant increases in psychophysical dynamic range (41 out of 46 electrode pairs tested). The observed increases in dynamic range are thought to result from nerve conditioning by appropriate levels of high-rate pulse train. Five dynamic range profiles are characterized, defining the different responses of dynamic range observed with increasing levels of the conditioner. Four of the five profiles demonstrate increases in dynamic range, with three showing behavior consistent with stochastic resonance. One profile depicts evidence of adaptation in response to higher levels of the conditioner, with a recovery period lasting throughout the duration (on the scale of tens of minutes) of experimentation. Dynamic range profiles are shown to be similar across sinusoidal frequencies (202, 515, and 1031 Hz) but potentially different across electrode pairs (electrodes 1-2, 7-8, and 15-16). Correlation analysis does not reveal any predictors of optimal conditioner level or amount of dynamic range increase with the conditioner.