A model of the effect of outer hair cell motility on cochlear vibrations

A model of cochlear function is presented in which deformation forces within outer hair cells are assumed to occur in synchronized response to generator potentials. Assuming a 90 degree phase lag between the generator potentials and the deformation forces, it is shown that the forces act to reduce cochlear-partition damping and thus increase frequency selectivity. A number of other experimentally observed phenomena, such as the effects of efferent-fiber stimulation and electrical polarization, can also be accounted for with this model.