Output details
15 - General Engineering
University of Southampton
Limit cycle oscillations in a nonlinear state space model of the human cochlea
Significance of output:
The existence of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs) (i.e., low-level sounds measurable in the ear canal) strongly suggests that the healthy cochlea contains an active amplifier operating at or near instability. This paper presents simulations from a novel cochlear model that predicts how cochlear instabilities could lead to a number of SOAEs that interact with one another in a complex fashion. This may provide a useful tool for testing theories of the cochlea against experimental measurements in humans. Additionally, the insights gained into cochlear physiology may help in developing improved clinical tests of cochlear function based on otoacoustic emissions.