INVESTIGATION ON INFLUENCE OF OUTER HAIR CELLS ON COCHLEA SLOW WAVE

Abstract

This study focuses on the influence of the outer hair cells (OHCs) on the waves that propagate on the basilar membrane (BM). The human auditory system relies on the intricate organization of inner and outer hair cells within the cochlea. Inner hair cells serve as primary sensory cells, while the OHCs amplify signals. The activation of these hair cells is driven by the vibration of the BM and the overlying tectorial membrane. The spatial arrangement of hair cells along the cochlea enables frequency-specific responses, allowing the auditory system to process a wide range of sound frequencies. In this study, modal analysis is employed to explore the influence of the OHCs on the BM waves. The analysis model includes the BM and OHCs, with a comparison to a model excluding the OHCs. The frequency characteristics of propagation constants are compared between the two cases, shedding light on the structural dependence of propagation constants in the presence and absence of the OHCs.