Transmission matrix analysis of the chinchilla middle ear.
Despite the common use of the chinchilla as an animal model in auditory research, a complete characterization of the chinchilla middle ear using transmission matrix analysis has not been performed. In this paper we describe measurements of middle-ear input admittance and stapes velocity in ears with the middle-ear cavity opened under three conditions: intact tympano-ossicular system and cochlea, after the cochlea has been drained, and after the stapes has been fixed. These measurements, made with stimulus frequencies of 100-8000 Hz, are used to define the transmission matrix parameters of the middle ear and to calculate the cochlear input impedance as well as the middle-ear output impedance. This transmission characterization of the chinchilla middle ear will be useful for modeling auditory sensitivity in the normal and pathological chinchilla ear.
Eaton-Peabody Laboratory of Auditory Physiology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. jocelyns@paradoxical.net
Jocelyn E
JE
Songer
John J
JJ
Rosowski
D000818:Animals; D002682:Chinchilla; D003051:Cochlea / Q000502:physiology*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000502:physiology*; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D023421:Models, Animal; D008954:Models, Biological; D011312:Pressure; D012016:Reference Values; D013016:Sound; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000502:physiology