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Related Concept Videos

Hair Cells01:22

Hair Cells

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Hair cells are the sensory receptors of the auditory system—they transduce mechanical sound waves into electrical energy that the nervous system can understand. Hair cells are located in the organ of Corti within the cochlea of the inner ear, between the basilar and tectorial membranes. The actual sensory receptors are called inner hair cells. The outer hair cells serve other functions, such as sound amplification in the cochlea, and are not discussed in detail here.
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The Cochlea01:13

The Cochlea

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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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Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration01:27

Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration

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Calcium is an essential signaling molecule required for various cellular functions. Calcium pumps and ion channels on cell and organellar membranes, such as those on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), regulate calcium concentrations inside the cell. They remain closed, keeping the cytosolic calcium levels low at a resting state.
Various transmembrane receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), elicit a response to extracellular signals by increasing cytosolic calcium. Activated GPCRs...
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Auditory Pathway01:15

Auditory Pathway

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Auditory pathways constitute the complex neural circuits responsible for transmitting and interpreting auditory information from the peripheral auditory system to the brain. Sound waves are initially captured by the outer ear, funneled through the ear canal, and reach the tympanic membrane (eardrum). These vibrations are transmitted via the middle ear's ossicles to the inner ear's cochlea.
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking...
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Calmodulin-dependent Signaling01:16

Calmodulin-dependent Signaling

6.7K
Calmodulin (CaM) is a calcium-binding protein in eukaryotes that controls various calcium-regulated cellular processes. It has four calcium-binding sites that bind calcium to form the calcium-calmodulin ( Ca2+-CaM) complex. GPCR stimulation increases the calcium levels in the cells that bind to CaM and induces a conformational change.
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
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Anatomy of the Ear01:16

Anatomy of the Ear

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Auditory sensation, commonly called hearing, involves the transformation of sonic waves into neural impulses facilitated by the structures of the auditory organ. The prominent, flesh-like structure on the side of the head, called the auricle, directs sound waves towards the auditory canal. The auricle is often mislabeled as the pinna, a term more aligned with mobile structures like a feline's external ear. The auditory canal penetrates the cranium via the external auditory meatus of the...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 25, 2026

In Vivo Calcium Imaging of Lateral-line Hair Cells in Larval Zebrafish
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Spontaneous Calcium Signalling in the Developing Mammalian Cochlea.

Federico Ceriani1, Walter Marcotti2,3

  • 1School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN, Sheffield, UK.

Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology : JARO
|February 23, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Spontaneous calcium (Ca2+) signals in the developing cochlea refine auditory neural circuits before hearing onset. This activity shapes auditory afferent fibers and tonotopic maps for precise sound processing.

Keywords:
Auditory pathwayCochleaDevelopmentHair cellsIn vivo imagingPurinergic signallingSpiral ganglion neuronsSpontaneous activitySupporting cells

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Long-term Time Lapse Imaging of Mouse Cochlear Explants
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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Auditory System Development
  • Cellular Physiology

Background:

  • The cochlea is crucial for high-fidelity sound representation in mammals.
  • The immature cochlea actively refines auditory neural circuits before hearing onset.
  • Spontaneous calcium (Ca2+) signals are generated by cochlear cells during development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review mechanisms of spontaneous Ca2+ signal generation and modulation in the developing cochlea.
  • To explore how these Ca2+ signals regulate auditory afferent fiber activation.
  • To understand the role of cochlear Ca2+ activity in auditory circuit refinement.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on cochlear development and Ca2+ signaling.
  • Analysis of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying spontaneous Ca2+ activity.
  • Investigation of the impact of Ca2+ signals on auditory neuron development.

Main Results:

  • Spontaneous Ca2+ signals in hair cells and supporting cells are critical for auditory development.
  • Synchronized Ca2+ activity influences the formation of tonotopic maps for frequency discrimination.
  • Cochlear Ca2+ activity promotes cellular and synaptic refinement within the auditory pathway.

Conclusions:

  • Spontaneous Ca2+ signaling in the developing cochlea is essential for refining auditory circuits.
  • These signals play a key role in shaping auditory afferent fibers and frequency processing.
  • Understanding these mechanisms provides insights into early auditory system maturation.