Re: mechanical cochlear model

["reinifrosch@xxxxxxxxxx" <reinifrosch@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Alain,

Unfortunately, I am not very knowledgeable, so my attempt may
not be authoritative:

1) Definition of cochlear-wave crest: In a snapshot of the cochlear
channel, at a crest the displacement of the basilar membrane
from its no-wave position has a local maximum.

2) During a travelling wave, the crest moves.

3) Even in the spatial region of the sharp "active peak" there is a 
travelling wave. Ren et al. (2003) have shown how it can be experimentally 
recognized. See their contribution "Measurement of Basilar-Membrane
Vibration Using a Scanning Laser Interferometer" in the book
"Biophysics of the Cohlea" (Titisee Proceedings), Gummer (Ed.),
World Scientific, New Jersey, pp. 211-219.  

Reinhart.

----Ursprüngliche Nachricht--------------------------
Von: Alain.de.Cheveigne@xxxxxx
Datum: 08.03.2010 11:46
An: <AUDITORY@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Betreff: Re: mechanical cochlear model

Just for the record, I did not side with the travelling wave hypothesis.

I did want to say that there appears to be a divergence on what 
'travelling wave' means.  It would be good if someone knowledgeable 
gave an authoritative definition.   If possible make it operational 
by saying how we can recognize that there is one, and how we would 
rule out the opposite hypothesis. [...]
--------------------------------------------------------------
Reinhart Frosch,
Dr. phil. nat.,
r. PSI and ETH Zurich,
Sommerhaldenstr. 5B,
CH-5200 Brugg.
Phone: 0041 56 441 77 72.
Mobile: 0041 79 754 30 32.
E-mail: reinifrosch@xxxxxxxxxx .