A model of the effect of outer hair cell motility on cochlear vibrations.
A model of cochlear function is presented in which deformation forces within outer hair cells are assumed to occur in synchronized response to generator potentials. Assuming a 90 degree phase lag between the generator potentials and the deformation forces, it is shown that the forces act to reduce cochlear-partition damping and thus increase frequency selectivity. A number of other experimentally observed phenomena, such as the effects of efferent-fiber stimulation and electrical polarization, can also be accounted for with this model.
D001489:Basilar Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003051:Cochlea / Q000502:physiology*; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008433:Mathematics; D008954:Models, Biological; D009476:Neurons, Efferent / Q000502:physiology; D010898:Pitch Perception / Q000502:physiology; D000159:Vestibulocochlear Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D014732:Vibration