The origin of mechanical harmonic distortion within the organ of Corti in living gerbil cochleae

Abstract

He and Ren measured sub-nanometer vibrations of the reticular lamina from the apical ends of the outer hair cells in living gerbil cochleae using a custom-built low-coherence interferometer. Their results indicate that mechanical harmonics are generated by the motile outer hair cells and can propagate to their best-frequency locations.