American journal of otolaryngology
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Experiments performed within the last 15 years on cochleas of live animals indicate that the cochlear sound analysis is much sharper than was expected from Békésy's experiments on postmortem preparations. The mechanism underlying the sharp analysis has not yet been ascertained experimentally. ⋯ The resonance would produce a strong vibration of the tectorial membrane in the radial plane and enhance the shear motion between the membrane and the reticular lamina. Mechanical and computer models of the mechanism have allowed the authors to reproduce in detail the empirical basilar membrane as well as corresponding neural tuning curves and to account for associated cochlear nonlinearities.