[The inner ear as an electrosensory sense organ]

A model for cochlear perception is introduced based on the consideration that the organ of Corti is an electrosensory organ like that found in fish physiology during phylogenetic development. The inner hair cells work as electroreceptors, the outer hair cells as electrocytes. A layer of potassium ions on the lower surface of the tectorial membrane causes the excitation of the inner hair cells as soon as contact with a stereocilium occurs. A model for the basilar membrane motion, based on mathematical considerations and in accordance with the typical tuning curves of single auditory nerve fibres can serve as basis to explain the results of frequency and intensity analyses if we assume an electric excitation of the inner hair cells.