Biophysical Mechanisms Underlying Auditory Transduction

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The ear is a remarkable detector: It is both highly sensitive and selective, and operates over a large dynamic range spanning more than 12 orders of magnitude. Direct physiological study of the ear however has been difficult, and thus there is much we do not know about the [complex array of cellular-based] amplification mechanisms at work in the ear. Hearing impairment commonly arises due to problems with these processes and affects the quality of life for a significant fraction of Canadians. Fortunately, we can make use of another extraordinary property of the ear: Not only does it respond to sound but emits it as well. These sounds, known as otoacoustic emissions (OAEs), can arise either spontaneously or be evoked by an external stimulus and are measurable non-invasively in the ear canal using a sensitive microphone. OAEs have been employed with great success in both scientific and clinical contexts (e.g., screening for hearing impairment) and further study will help crystallize our understanding of the fundamental biophysics underlying amplification in the ear.