Biophysics Of The Ear

This book extends our understanding of the mechanics and biophysics of hearing by bringing together the latest research on the topic by experts in cell and molecular biology, physiology, physics, engineering and mathematics. It contains the proceedings of the 10th International Workshop on the Mechanics of Hearing that was held at Keele University in the United Kingdom at the end of July, 2008. Topics for discussion included theoretical and experimental research at the molecular, cellular and systems levels. Separate sections of the book deal with: the transmission of sound energy to and from the inner ear, and wave propagation within the inner ear; the enhancement of stimulus wave motion that occurs in the inner ear; new measurement techniques that will underpin future innovative studies; the micro-mechanics of the basilar and tectorial membranes and the organ of Corti; cochlear dynamics; sensory hair cells and electromechanical transduction; and sensory hair-bundles and mechano-electrical transduction. The book concludes with the transcript of an open discussion session between the participants of the workshop, highlighting areas of uncertainty and controversy in the field, and pointing the way to the solutions to be sought in future research. This book reviews and synthesizes current concepts and challenges in the biophysics of hearing, and will be an invaluable guide to researchers and students in all branches of auditory science.

This book contains the proceedings of an international hearing-research conference held in Germany 2002. The conference brought together experts in genetics, molecular and cellular biology, physiology, engineering, physics, mathematics, audiology and medicine to synthesize and extend our understanding of how the cochlea works. Topics are discussed experimentally and theoretically at the molecular, cellular and whole-organ levels. Some of the topics are: mechanosensitivity of motor proteins; mechanochemical transduction by motor proteins; mechanoelectrical transduction in the stereocilia of hair cells; electromechanical transduction in the stereocilia, soma and synapses of hair cells; multidimensional vibration of the organ of Corti; and otoacoustic emissions. This book will be invaluable to researchers and students in auditory science. The proceedings have been selected for coverage in: • Index to Scientific & Technical Proceedings (ISTP CDROM version / ISI Proceedings) Contents:StereociliaHair CellsWhole-Organ MechanicsCochlear ModelsEmissionsDiscussion Session Readership: Hearing scientists (including medical persons in otolaryngology), biophysicists and molecular biologists, engineers interested in manufacturing silicon devices (MEMS), and persons interested in modelling biological systems. Keywords:Audition;Hearing;Cochlea;Biophysics;Hearing Impairment;Motor Molecules;Ion Channels;Interferometry;Otoacoustic EmissionsReviews:“In addition to the scientific papers, this book includes the comments and discussions raised for each manuscript at the time of its oral presentation, and most importantly, a final chapter with the edited transcript of the recording of a discussion session about outstanding topics of cochlear biophysics held by some of the most prominent researchers in the field. The first hand information provided by these transcripts is precisely what makes this book particularly interesting … The quality of this carefully edited book is excellent.”Audiology & Neuro-Otology

The Auditory Periphery: Biophysics and Physiology is an attempt to provide comprehensive and detailed information regarding biophysics and physiology in terms of the peripheral auditory system. Eight detailed chapters are presented in the book where the first and last serve as introduction and summary. The introductory chapter provides background on the anatomy and functional organization of the auditory system. The second chapter illustrates the most common experimental techniques. A whole chapter is dedicated to the discussion of the middle ear, while Chapters 4 and 5 discuss cochlear mechanisms and potentials. The topic most studied but less understood in the operation of the ear is also emphasized in the book, which is the production of distortion. The topic of feedback mechanisms and systems is also covered. This book aims to be of help to various specialists such as biophysicists, bioengineers, physiologists, otolaryngologists, and speech and hearing scientists.

Humans receive the vast majority of sensory perception through the eyes and ears. This non-technical book examines the everyday physics behind hearing and vision to help readers understand more about themselves and their physical environment. It begins wit

Basic Mechanisms in Hearing is a collection of papers that discusses the function of the auditory system covering its ultrastructure, physiology, and the mechanism's connection with experimental psychology. Papers review the mechanics, morphology, and physiology of the cochlear, including the physiology of individual hair cells and their synapses. One paper examines the combined physiological and anatomical studies of stimulus coding in the mammalian auditory nervous system. The results of these studies pertain to the latency, frequency selectivity, and time pattern of responses to short tone bursts. Other research compare the cochlear nerve, behavioral, and psychophysical frequency selectivity which show that frequency selectivity of the auditory system occurs at the level of the cochlear nerve, becoming downgraded in end-organ deafness. Other papers discuss neural coding at higher levels such as the feature extraction in the auditory system of bats. Some papers also analyze the specialized hearing mechanisms in animals, for example, the echolocation of bats and in some insects, the function of the swimbladder in fish hearing, as well as the "invertebrate frequency analyzer" in the locust ear. Physiologists, neurophysiologists, neurobiologists, general medical practioners, and EENT specialists will find this collection valuable.

Dr. Howard House, founder of the House Ear Institute and House Ear Clinic often uses the analogy of planting a seed when referring to establishing the House Ear Institute in 1946. Two grateful patients of Dr. House put forth the idea that his knowledge and innovative skills could be used to expand the understanding of hearing impairment and its treatment. Those two early patients provided the "seed money" to begin the Institute. Since that time, the growth has been phenomenal from a one-man laboratory to a multidisciplinary facility boasting over 175 scien tists, physicians, and support staff, all dedicated to the advancement of otologic research and education. Six years ago after a half-century of remarkable success with prosthetic and device research, the Institute began cultivating a new field of endeavor-cell and molecular biology. Don Nielsen, then the Institute's Executive Vice President for Research and Scientific Director, began exploring the potential for hair cell regen eration and presented his ideas to the Board of Trustees. For a period of six months, we did a lot of fact finding to assess what role the Institute might take in this excit ing new field.