PITCH IS INFLUENCED BY SPONTANEOUS OTOACOUSTIC EMISSIONS

Binaural frequency discrimination was studied in musically trained nor mal subjects. The frequency chosen was that of a spontaneous oto-acous tic emission (SOAE) in one ear. The other ear was free from SOAEs in t he test frequency range. Subjective frequency sensation was found to d rift away from the frequency of the peak of the emission: Frequencies lower than that of the emission were perceived as being lower than the y actually were; frequencies higher than that of the emission were fel t to be higher than they actually were (test range, emission frequency +/- 30 Hz).