Re: Function of Cochlear Nucleus cell types

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Subject: Re: Function of Cochlear Nucleus cell types

From: Ranjit Randhawa <rsran@xxxxxxxxxxx>

Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2014 10:36:32 -0500

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Comments: To: Sunil Puria <puria@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

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Reply-to: Ranjit Randhawa <rsran@xxxxxxxxxxx>

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Thanks for the pointer to the article but find that it only adds to the signal processing capability of the cochlear. Are there any other forms of curved surfaces that could also provide the same signal enhancement? One could take many a view of what one means by the term "function" in the dictum, but I would have assumed that signal processing looms large.

However I have to admit that acceptance of this functionality is not universal, else any answer provided pertaining to the efficiency of the packaging (the "form") can be ignored. The form is self evident as I have been told many times in my life.

Thanks again, regards,
Randy

On 1/7/2014 1:23 AM, Sunil Puria wrote:

There is a nice article about this by D. Manoussaki, E. K. Dimitriadis, and R. S. Chadwick.

Why the Inner Ear is Snail-Shaped

Published March 3, 2006 | Phys. Rev. Focus 17, 8 (2006) | DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevFocus.17.8

The spiral shape of the cochlea enhances its ability to detect low frequency sounds.

See: http://physics.aps.org/story/v17/st8

On Jan 6, 2014, at 3:02 PM, Richard F. Lyon <dicklyon@xxxxxxx> wrote:

That's an interesting question, too, Randy, but likely not very related to cochlear nucleus.

I've gotten a few pointers so far, and requests to share the results. I'll do that.

Dick

On Mon, Jan 6, 2014 at 8:59 AM, Ranjit Randhawa <rsran@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

In addition I would like to add that the answers should also describe why the cochlea is shaped like it is. This is to satisfy the old dictum in biology, "form follows function", which as far as I know has never been answered. But if it is, maybe a reference could be added. There seems to be a lot of effort based on the reverse, "function follows form", and I have been wondering whether that there is any truth in that? Thanks for bringing this up to start the New Year, looking forward to the responses. Best regards,
Randy Randhawa

Sunil Puria, PhD

Stanford University

Depts. of ME & OHNS

OtoBiomechanics Group

http://www.stanford.edu/people/puria