[Cochlea-amp.] mechanical cochlear model

[Martin Braun]

Continuation of thread of same name from the Auditory List:
http://www.auditory.org/postings/2010/

Dear Peter and others,

> I thought a sound wave was defined as pressure differences traveling.

Quite write.

> But perhaps you're referring to some average pressure?

No, the average is zero both for sound wave without fluid volume 
displacement and for fluid volume displacement, if the stapes swings 
symmetrically around its zero point.

The difference we have to have in mind is the difference between diabatic 
propagation of pressure at high sound levels and adiabatic propagation of 
pressure at low sound levels.

A diabatic process occurs as soon as a membrane moves. As long as no 
membrane is moved by the pressure propagation between stapes and hair cell, 
we have an adiabatic process.

Can we perhaps also agree that in a selective process for sensitivity in 
hearing an adiabatic process will always outperform a diabatic one?

Martin

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Martin Braun
Neuroscience of Music
S-671 95 Klässbol
Sweden
email: nombraun at telia.com
web site: http://www.neuroscience-of-music.se/index.htm