Dynamics of the amphibian middle ear.
Using laser speckle interferometry, we show that the directional information of acoustic signals is encoded in the motion of eardrum. Moreover, the frequency sensitivity of the auditory system is determined by the mechanical properties of the middle ear, which acts like a damped resonator.
D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000502:physiology*; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D007368:Interferometry; D007834:Lasers; D009068:Movement; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D011896:Rana temporaria / Q000502:physiology*; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000502:physiology