A nonlinear model for transduction in hair cells

Based on the experimental observations of the mechano-electrical transduction in hair cells, we formulate a model of the receptor potential utilizing a simple model circuit and ideas of stretch activation that have been developed for other mechanoreceptors. The stereociliary displacement-response relation is developed based on the cilia crosslinking, thus incorporating notions of bidirectional sensitivity, asymmetry, saturation, and adaptation into the model. We then give some simulation results involving periodic stimuli to the hair bundle as well as current stimuli of study latency behavior and other qualitative properties of the model.