Cochlear outer hair cells （OHCs） are involved in a mechanical feedback loop in which the fast somatic motility of OHCs is required for cochlear amplification. Alternatively, amplification is thought to arise from ac...Cochlear outer hair cells （OHCs） are involved in a mechanical feedback loop in which the fast somatic motility of OHCs is required for cochlear amplification. Alternatively, amplification is thought to arise from active hair bundle movements ob- served in non-mammalian hair cells. We measured the voltage-evoked hair bundle motions in the gerbil cochlea to determine if such movements are also present in mammalian OHCs. The OHCs displayed a large hair bundle movement that was not based on mechanotransducer channels but based on somatic motility. Significantly, bundle movements were able to generate radial motion of the rectorial membrane in situ. This result implies that the motility-associated hair bundle motion may be part of the cochlear amplifier.展开更多
Technological advancements are continuously changing the paradigm of human existence.Human beings are constantly engaging in various measures to reduce the extent of sensory and motor impairment.This has been in the f...Technological advancements are continuously changing the paradigm of human existence.Human beings are constantly engaging in various measures to reduce the extent of sensory and motor impairment.This has been in the form of various devices,e.g.orthopedic prosthesis,visual aids (spectacles) and hearing aids.Countless attempts throughout the centuries have been made in an effort to improve sound amplification in patients.This article seeks to highlights the technological journey of one such implant,the middle ear implant,from its inception to the more technological advanced futuristic proposals.While there are many amplification devices available presently,there still remains a group of patients who have not experienced adequate amplification for their hearing loss and this subset may gain the greatest benefit from middle ear implants.展开更多
The cochlea plays an important role in the mammalian auditory system.Sound-induced cell motion in the cochlea is transformed into electrical signals that are then sent to primary auditory neurons.The most significant ...The cochlea plays an important role in the mammalian auditory system.Sound-induced cell motion in the cochlea is transformed into electrical signals that are then sent to primary auditory neurons.The most significant feature of the cochlea is the active and nonlinear amplification of faint sounds.This active process cannot be explained via a simple hydromechanical representation of the cochlea,that is,a macromechanic explanation.Although the mechanisms of this amplification are not well understood,cochlear micromechanical behavior is thought to play a significant role.The measurement of in vivo cochlea micromechanical responses is challenging and restricted by technical limitations.Modeling the micromechanics of the cochlea,however,can facilitate the interpretation of experimental observations.In this paper,we reviewed studies in which researchers modeled the cochlear micromechanics,and we discussed various modeling hypotheses,outcomes,and expectations.展开更多
文摘Cochlear outer hair cells （OHCs） are involved in a mechanical feedback loop in which the fast somatic motility of OHCs is required for cochlear amplification. Alternatively, amplification is thought to arise from active hair bundle movements ob- served in non-mammalian hair cells. We measured the voltage-evoked hair bundle motions in the gerbil cochlea to determine if such movements are also present in mammalian OHCs. The OHCs displayed a large hair bundle movement that was not based on mechanotransducer channels but based on somatic motility. Significantly, bundle movements were able to generate radial motion of the rectorial membrane in situ. This result implies that the motility-associated hair bundle motion may be part of the cochlear amplifier.
文摘Technological advancements are continuously changing the paradigm of human existence.Human beings are constantly engaging in various measures to reduce the extent of sensory and motor impairment.This has been in the form of various devices,e.g.orthopedic prosthesis,visual aids (spectacles) and hearing aids.Countless attempts throughout the centuries have been made in an effort to improve sound amplification in patients.This article seeks to highlights the technological journey of one such implant,the middle ear implant,from its inception to the more technological advanced futuristic proposals.While there are many amplification devices available presently,there still remains a group of patients who have not experienced adequate amplification for their hearing loss and this subset may gain the greatest benefit from middle ear implants.
基金supported by Tianjin Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Neural Engineering,Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Basic Research Cooperation Project of China(No.18JCZDJC45300)Tianjin Plan of Funding Outstanding Science and Technology Projects Launched by Talents Returning from Studying Overseas of China(No.2018004).
文摘The cochlea plays an important role in the mammalian auditory system.Sound-induced cell motion in the cochlea is transformed into electrical signals that are then sent to primary auditory neurons.The most significant feature of the cochlea is the active and nonlinear amplification of faint sounds.This active process cannot be explained via a simple hydromechanical representation of the cochlea,that is,a macromechanic explanation.Although the mechanisms of this amplification are not well understood,cochlear micromechanical behavior is thought to play a significant role.The measurement of in vivo cochlea micromechanical responses is challenging and restricted by technical limitations.Modeling the micromechanics of the cochlea,however,can facilitate the interpretation of experimental observations.In this paper,we reviewed studies in which researchers modeled the cochlear micromechanics,and we discussed various modeling hypotheses,outcomes,and expectations.
