An examination of nonlinear waves in the cochlea utilizing asymptotic and numerical methods
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Authors
Fessel, Kimberly
Issue Date
2013-05
Type
Electronic thesis
Thesis
Thesis
Language
ENG
Keywords
Mathematics
Alternative Title
Abstract
In this work we develop a comprehensive, three-dimensional model for the active cochlear response. We expand upon other currently accepted linear modeling efforts in order to explain observed nonlinearities such as amplification and sharpening of the basilar membrane displacement peaks. The OHCs' electromotive force is discussed and decomposed into its tangential and normal components. The merit of each of these components is investigated, and we find that the tangential force is more likely to influence the BM wave. We introduce a novel model for the cochlear micromechanics in order to describe the effects of the OHCs from first principles, and with the inclusion of the OHC forcing term, we arrive at a nonlinear equation for the motion of the BM. Perturbation methods are used to systematically reduce the complexity of the equations, and we obtain an approximate solution for the system with a hybrid analytic-numeric approach. The acquired solution replicates many experimentally-seen properties and appears to successfully capture much of the nonlinear dynamics of the cochlea.
Description
May 2013
School of Science
School of Science
Full Citation
Publisher
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY