Related Experiment Videos
Basilar membrane responses to broadband stimuli
1Department of Physiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706, USA. recio@physiology.wisc.edu
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|December 7, 2000
Summary
Basilar membrane vibration was measured using clicks and Schroeder-phase stimuli in chinchillas. Responses showed frequency glides and nonlinear properties, with differences observed between positive and negative Schroeder-phase stimuli.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Bioacoustics
- Mechanics of Hearing
Background:
- The basilar membrane (BM) is crucial for frequency analysis in the cochlea.
- Understanding BM nonlinearities is key to explaining auditory perception.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate basilar membrane responses to clicks and Schroeder-phase stimuli.
- To characterize nonlinear properties and frequency tuning at the base of the chinchilla cochlea.
Main Methods:
- Recorded basilar membrane vibrations at multiple sites (5.5-18 kHz CF) in the chinchilla cochlea.
- Utilized broadband stimuli: clicks and Schroeder-phase complexes (+SCHR and -SCHR).
- Analyzed BM response envelopes, frequency glides, and tone suppression.
Main Results:
- BM responses to clicks exhibited frequency glides dependent on characteristic frequency (CF).
- BM vibration exceeded umbo motion by up to 60 dB, indicating nonlinear amplification.
- +SCHR stimuli produced 'peakier' BM responses with wider envelope dips than -SCHR stimuli.
- Suppression of a near-CF tone was greater for -SCHR than +SCHR stimuli.
Conclusions:
- Basilar membrane responses demonstrate significant nonlinear behavior across the basal cochlea.
- Differences in BM responses to +SCHR and -SCHR stimuli highlight the role of phase in auditory processing.
- These findings contribute to understanding cochlear mechanics and frequency selectivity.