Solvents effects on the stapedial reflex

There are two reflexes involved in the physiology of hearing. The stapedial reflex (SR) protects the cochlea by contracting the middle-ear muscles, while the olivocochlear reflex is mainly dedicated to high-frequency discrimination. In this study, the effects of the olivocochlear reflex were negligible compared to those of the SR.
For over thirty years, it has been known that anesthetics inhibit the SR (Farkas, 1983). Recently, it was demonstrated that aromatic solvents can counterbalance the inhibitory effects of anesthetics on this reflex. However, the mechanism of interaction between these compounds remains unknown. The molecule could have a structure-related effect (the position of the lateral chain around the benzene ring), or a more general effect due to its physico-chemical characteristics (e.g. Log Kow) (Campo, 2007).