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Biophysics of the ensiferan ear

III. The cricket ear as a four-input system

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Summary

  1. 1.

    The small (anterior) tympanal membrane in the ear of the cricketGryllus campestris L. is non-functional in hearing (Fig. 4).

  2. 2.

    The large (posterior) tympanum vibrates in its basic mode in the entire frequency range investigated (1–30 kHz).

  3. 3.

    The velocity and the phase angle (sound pressure to vibration velocity) of the large tympanum are very much influenced by whether the ipsilateral spiracle is open or closed (Fig. 5).

  4. 4.

    The velocity and the phase angle of the large tympanum are less influenced by the state of the contralateral spiracle. The experiments demonstrate, however, that sound waves in the frequency range from 1 to 22 kHz travel from the contralateral spiracle through the connecting tracheal tube to the back (internal) surface of the tympanum. The internal sound pressure (p b ) thus provided amounts to about 35% of the sound pressure (p f ) acting on the front (external) surface of the tympanum. This part ofp b is rather independent of frequency (Figs. 6 and 7).

  5. 5.

    The velocity and the phase angle of the large tympanum are little influenced by sound transmitted through the contralateral (large) tympanum. Thep b thus provided amounts to 10–20% ofp f (Fig. 8).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biology, Odense University, Niels Bohrs Allé, DK-5230, Odense M, Denmark

    Ole N. Larsen & Axel Michelsen

Authors
  1. Ole N. Larsen
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  2. Axel Michelsen
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Additional information

We are grateful to O. Juhl Pedersen, Knud Rasmussen and Simon Boel Pedersen of the Acoustics Laboratory, The Technical University of Denmark for advice on physical problems and to Dr. Lee A. Miller for comments on the manuscript. The work was supported by NATO and the Danish Natural Science Research Council.

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Larsen, O.N., Michelsen, A. Biophysics of the ensiferan ear. J. Comp. Physiol. 123, 217–227 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00656874

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00656874

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