Micromechanical Models of the Cochlea

JUL 01, 1992

We know that the inner ear separates the frequency components of complex sounds by mechanical means, but exactly how is this feat accomplished?

DOI: 10.1063/1.881349

Jont B. Allen

Stephen T. Neely

Understanding human perception is at the forefront of scientific research goals today. The development of robots, virtual reality, speech coders and speech recognition devices depends on a good understanding of how we hear. The cochlea is the part of the inner ear that converts acoustic signals to the neural code that conveys auditory information to the brain. Modeling the function of the cochlea has been an active area of research since the development of the digital computer, yet several mysteries remain.

This article is only available in PDF format

References

1. J. J. Zwislocki, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 67, 639 (1980).https://doi.org/JASMAN
2. W. S. Rhode, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 49, 1218 (1971).https://doi.org/JASMAN
3. P. M. Sellick, R. Patuzzi, B. M. Johnstone, Hearing Res. 10, 101 (1983).
4. D. T. Kemp, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 64, 1386 (1978).https://doi.org/JASMAN
5. J. B. Allen, J. L. Hall, A. E. Hubbard, S. T. Neely, A. Tubis, Peripheral Auditor,’ Mechanisms, Springer‐Verlag, New York (1986).
6. J. P. Wilson, D. T. Kemp, Cochlear Mechanisms, Academic, San Diego (1989).
7. P. Dallos, C. D. Geisler, J. W. Matthews, M. A. Ruggero, C. R. Steele, The Mechanics and Biophysics of Hearing, Springer‐Verlag, New York (1990).
8. J. B. Allen, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 68, 1660 (1980).https://doi.org/JASMAN
9. R. J. Diependaal, E. de Boer, M. A. Viergever, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 82, 917 (1987).https://doi.org/JASMAN
10. G. Zweig, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 89, 1229 (1991).https://doi.org/JASMAN
11. J. B. Allen, P. F. Fahey, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. (July 1992).
12. D. O. Kim, S. T. Neely, C. E. Molnar, J. W. Matthews, in Psychological. Physiological, and Behavioral Studies in Hearing, G. van den Brink, F. A. Bilsen, eds., Delft U.P., Delft, The Netherlands (1980), p. 7.
13. S. T. Neely, D. O. Kim, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 79, 1472 (1986).https://doi.org/JASMAN
14. S. T. Neely, “A Model of Cochlea Mechanics with Outer Hair Cell Motility,” submitted to J. Acoust. Soc. Am.
15. D. C. Mountain, A. E. Hubbard, T. A. McMullen, in Mechanics of Hearing, E. de Boer, M. A. Viergever, eds., Delft U P Delft The Netherlands (1983), p. 119.

More about the authors

Jont B. Allen, AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, New Jersey.

Stephen T. Neely, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska.