Observing auditory mechanics with pressure and motion measurements

描述（由申请人提供）：通过压力和运动测量探索听觉力学。 这里提出的一系列实验使用压力传感器和我们实验室开发的其他特殊技术，并辅以激光多普勒测速等成熟的方法来探索听觉力学。前四个目标的项目继续并扩展了我们之前在内耳和中耳力学方面的工作。最终目标是开发和评估一种深部人工耳蜗植入的新方法。 声音输入会引起内耳内感觉组织运动的波型，该运动被传送到听觉神经，从而产生听力。这是在实验可及性非常有限的耳蜗室内进行的。这里提出的一项和两项研究的目标是利用专门的微型传感器进入这些难以接近的隔间。目标一使用进一步小型化的微压力传感器来测量 scala 介质压力的体内测量。第二个目标是通过将我们实验室完善的鼓阶压力测量与同一位置（柯蒂氏器微米范围内）的耳蜗颤音测量相结合来改进。这两个目标都是为了测试具体的理论预测，以便对知识的进步产生重大影响。即使在鼓膜对声音有复杂的随机波响应的频率下，声音也能通过中耳以高保真度传输。最近的理论利用鼓膜波进行声音传输，我们的目标是通过用硬化剂改变波速、用激光测速仪测量波速以及用耳蜗内压力监测声音传输来进行预测的三个测试。我们的第二个中耳目标探索了一个理论预测，即鼓膜后面的气腔提供反射，这是高频声音良好传输的基础。最后，我们的最后一个目标是探索一种利用粘性力进行深部人工耳蜗植入的新方法。该方法将在拟议的研究中进行生理学评估。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Exploring Auditory Mechanics with Pressure and Motion Measurements. The series of experiments proposed here use pressure sensors and other special techniques developed in our lab, complemented by well-established methods like laser-doppler velocimetry, to explore auditory mechanics. The projects of the first four aims continue and extend our previous work on inner and middle ear mechanics. The final aim develops and evaluates a new method for deep cochlear implant insertion. Sound input causes a wave-pattern of sensory tissue motion within the inner ear that is conveyed to the auditory nerve, leading to hearing. This takes place within cochlear compartments having very limited experimental accessibility. Aims one and two of the studies proposed here will push into these barely accessible compartments with specialized micro-sensors. Aim one uses a further miniaturized micro-pressure sensor for in vivo measurements of scala media pressure. Aim two advances our lab's well- established scala tympani pressure measurements by combining them with cochlear microphonic measurements at the same location, within micrometers of the organ of Corti. Both aims are designed to test specific theoretical predictions in order to have a strong impact on the advancement of knowledge. Sound is transmitted by the middle ear with high fidelity even at frequencies where the eardrum has a complex, random-wavy response to sound. Recent theories employ the eardrum wave for sound transmission, and our aim three tests that prediction by changing the wave speed with stiffening agents, measuring the wave speed with a laser velocimeter and also monitoring sound transmission with intracochlear pressure. Our second middle ear aim explores a theoretical prediction that the air cavity behind the eardrum provides reflection that is the basis for good sound transmission at high frequencies. Finally, our last aim explores a novel method for deep cochlear implant insertion using viscous forces. The method will by evaluated physiologically in the proposed studies.