Exploring otoacoustic emissions with intracochlear pressure and motion measuremen

描述（由申请人提供）：本申请中提出的实验使用完善的微压力传感器和激光多普勒振动计技术来探测与耳声发射（OAE）相关的潜在耳蜗力学。该应用旨在提供直接的耳蜗内活体观察，以进一步了解OAE产生、传播和反向传输中耳蜗信号处理的基本问题。第一个目标将探讨耳蜗主动过程中的反向传输和其余的目标将继续和扩展我们以前的工作的失真产物耳声发射（DPOAE）的产生和传播的耳蜗。耳声发射是在耳蜗内产生并在耳道中检测到的声音，携带有关产生和塑造它们的机制的信息，从而提供对耳蜗力学的非侵入性观察。然而，如何将耳声发射与耳蜗力学联系起来是耳声发射研究中的一大挑战。在向前的方向上，声音会沿着耳蜗分区产生行波，该行波由外毛细胞的活动（耳蜗放大器）增强。但耳蜗放大器和耳蜗液在耳蜗反向传递中的作用尚不清楚。通过同时测量耳蜗内（基底膜速度和耳蜗内压力）和耳道压力，目的一研究OAE在耳蜗内的产生部位，进一步探索活动耳蜗内多音抑制;目的二量化正向和反向传输时的行波和压缩波压力;目的三探索反向传输时耳蜗的活动过程。因此，研究结果将提供基本的耳蜗内观察，测试OAE产生的理论和形成的基础，建立三维耳蜗模型。最后，从目前的应用结果将导致更有效的OAE听力筛查程序用于研究和临床。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The experiments proposed in the current application use well-established micro-pressure-sensor and laser Doppler vibrometer techniques to probe underlying cochlear mechanics relating to otoacoustic emissions (OAEs). This application aims to provide direct intracochlear observation in vivo to further understand the fundamental questions in OAE generation, propagation and cochlear signal processing in reverse transmission. The first aim will explore the cochlear active process in reverse transmission and the rest of the aims will continue and extend our previous work on the generation and propagation of distortion product OAEs (DPOAEs) in the cochlea. OAEs are sounds generated within the cochlea and being detected in the ear canal, carrying the information about the mechanisms that generate and shape them, thus providing a noninvasive view into cochlear mechanics. However, how to relate OAE to cochlea mechanics is a big challenge in OAE research. In the forward direction, sound causes a traveling wave along the cochlear partition, which is boosted by the outer hair cells' activity (cochlear amplifier). However, the role of cochlear amplifier and cochlear fluid in cochlear reverse transmission is not clear. With simultaneous intracochlear (the basilar membrane velocity and intracochlear pressure) and ear canal pressure measurements, aim one studies the generation sites of OAE in the cochlea and further explore multiple tones suppression in active cochleae; aim two is designed to quantify the traveling wave and compression wave pressures in both forward and reverse transmissions; aim three explores the cochlear active process in reverse transmission. Thus the results will provide fundamental intracochlear observations, test the OAE generation theories and form the foundation for developing three-dimensional cochlear model. Finally, results from the current application will lead to more efficient OAE hearing screening program used in research and clinic.