Subject: Re: HC selectivity ... was Re: Physiological models of cochlea activity - alternatives to the travelling wave From: Martin Braun <nombraun@xxxxxxxx> Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 17:14:43 +0200 List-Archive:<http://lists.mcgill.ca/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=AUDITORY>Hi Laszlo and others, thank you for taking up this issue. It is highly topical. In cochlear mechanics much more so than anywhere else in hearing science. As to Wikipedia, it is today much more detailed and specific than you suggested. There is a particular article on Scientific Modeling http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_modelling It contains some interesting sentences already in the summary: "The professional modeller brings special skills and techniques to bear in order to produce results that are insightful, reliable, and useful. These techniques such as sophisticated statistical methods, computer simulation, systems identification, and sensitivity analysis are valuable tools. They however are not as important as the ability to understand the underlying dynamics of a complex system. These insights are needed to assess whether the assumptions of a model are correct and complete. The modeller must be able to recognise whether a model reflects reality, and to identify and deal with divergences between theory and data." I would like to emphasize this section: "They however are not as important as the ability to understand the underlying dynamics of a complex system. These insights are needed to assess whether the assumptions of a model are correct and complete." In other words: Models are slaves, not masters. Hear, hear .......... Martin --------------------------------------------------------------------- Martin Braun Neuroscience of Music S-671 95 Klässbol Sweden web site: http://w1.570.telia.com/~u57011259/index.htm