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Organ of Corti kinematics
1Auditory Physiology Laboratory, The Hugh Knowles Center and Neuroscience Institute, Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA. p-dallos@northwestern.edu
Abstract:
The internal workings of the organ of Corti and their relation to basilar membrane motion are examined with the aid of a simple kinematic model. It is shown that, due to the lever system embodied in the organ of Corti, there is a significant transformer gain between basilar membrane and cilia displacements. While this transformation is nonlinear, linear response prevails in the narrow physiologically relevant operating range of the ciliary transducer. The model also simulates cilia deflection when the mechanical stimulus is the length change of outer hair cells.