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Complex Dynamics in Physiological Systems: From Heart to Brain pp 239–254Cite as

The Role of Dynamical Instabilities and Fluctuations in Hearing

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Part of the book series: Understanding Complex Systems ((UCS))

Abstract

The process of hearing can be understood as one arising through the action of a number of nonlinear elements operating near dynamical instabilities in an environment subject to fluctuations. The sound detector in the inner ear, the mechanoelectrical transducer hair cell can be modelled as a forced Hopf oscillator. When such a system is additionally equipped with a regulatory feedback mechanism which ensures that the system always remains self tuned to operate very close to the bifurcation, then the presence of weak noise can assist in enhancing hugely the amplification of weak stimuli. The fast variable gets phase-locked with the external stimulus for all values of the signal amplitude, showing that the phenomenon is distinct from stochastic resonance. Drawing upon some interesting results obtained for a generic nonlinear system, some speculations can be made in the context of hearing. We suggest a plausible explanation for the hitherto unexplained source of the peaks in the spontaneous otoacoutic emission spectra of various organisms.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physics, University of Hyderabad, Central University P.O, Gachi Bowli, Hyderabad 500 046, India

    J. Balakrishnan

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  1. J. Balakrishnan
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Central Instrumentation, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata-700032, India

    Syamal K. Dana (Dr.) (Dr.)

  2. Department of Physics, Presidency College, Kolkata-700073, India

    Prodyot K. Roy (Dr.) (Dr.)

  3. Institut für Physik, Universität Potsdam, Am Neuen Palais 10, 14415, Potsdam, Germany

    Jürgen Kurths (Dr.) (Dr.)

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Balakrishnan, J. (2009). The Role of Dynamical Instabilities and Fluctuations in Hearing. In: Dana, S.K., Roy, P.K., Kurths, J. (eds) Complex Dynamics in Physiological Systems: From Heart to Brain. Understanding Complex Systems. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9143-8_15

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