A Traveling-Wave Amplifier Model of the Cochlea

Abstract

A two-mode model of the cochlea that uses active intermode feedback has been developed that quantitatively accounts for the motion of the basilar membrane in response to single tones and qualitatively accounts for cochlear emission phenomena. In contrast to existing single-mode models, this model amplifies the mechanical traveling wave in spatially localized cochlear regions where an approximate match occurs between the traveling-wave velocities of each of the two traveling-wave lines or modes.