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The cochlea is a coiled structure in the inner ear that contains hair cells—the sensory receptors of the auditory system. Sound waves are transmitted to the cochlea by small bones attached to the eardrum called the ossicles, which vibrate the oval window that leads to the inner ear. This causes fluid in the chambers of the cochlea to move, vibrating the basilar membrane.

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Related Experiment Video

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Sound Source Localization Testing in Single-sided Deafness Following Bone Conduction Intervention

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The basis for using bone-conducted vibration or air-conducted sound to test otolithic function.

I S Curthoys¹, V Vulovic, A M Burgess

¹Vestibular Research Laboratory, School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. ianc@psych.usyd.edu.au

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

|September 29, 2011

Summary

Low-intensity sound and vibration activate otolith vestibular neurons. Oculomotor and neck muscle responses can selectively probe utricular and saccular function, respectively.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Vestibular System Physiology

Background:

The vestibular system, crucial for balance and spatial orientation, comprises otolith organs (utricle and saccule) and semicircular canals.
Understanding the differential activation and projection of vestibular neurons is key to diagnosing balance disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effects of low-intensity bone-conducted vibration (BCV) and air-conducted sound (ACS) on primary vestibular neurons.
To determine if BCV and ACS can selectively probe the function of the utricle and saccule.

Main Methods:

Extracellular single neuron recordings in guinea pig Scarpa's ganglion.
Electrophysiological recordings of otolith-evoked eye movements and myogenic potentials in humans and guinea pigs.

Main Results:

500 Hz BCV and ACS activated a high proportion of otolith irregular neurons from both the utricle and saccule, with minimal activation of semicircular canal neurons.
In humans and guinea pigs, 500 Hz BCV elicited otolith-evoked eye movements, predominantly reflecting utricular function.
In humans, 500 Hz BCV also elicited myogenic potentials in sternocleidomastoid muscles, reflecting saccular function.

Conclusions:

Low-intensity sound and vibration effectively activate otolith vestibular pathways.
Differential neural projections allow for selective assessment of utricular (via oculomotor responses) and saccular (via neck muscle responses) function using BCV and ACS.