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OBJECTIVES: This study reports the effects of stimulation level and stimulation rate on the phase locking value (PLV)-an index quantifying neural synchrony of the cochlear nerve (CN)-in postlingually deafened adult cochlear implant users. DESIGN: PLVs were measured at three to four electrode locations at five stimulation levels or at six stimulation rates in 17 participants. Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess the effects of these two parameters on the PLV. RESULTS: Smaller PLVs were measured at the base compared with more apical electrodes across stimulation levels and stimulation rates. The PLV increased with stimulation level but was not affected by stimulation rate up to 120 Hz. CONCLUSIONS: In human cochlear implant users, neural synchrony of the CN increases with stimulation level and is not affected by stimulation rate up to 120 Hz. In electrical hearing, these parametric effects are not altered by the pathological changes in the CN.
Chratian et al. (Mon,) studied this question.