The Mechanism of the Cochlea

Abstract

IF I understand Dr. Perrett's letter in NATURE of November 11, p. 633, his objection to Yoshii's experiments (which would apply equally to those of Wittmaack and Siebenmann) is based on the assumption that the intensity of the stimulation of every part of the cochlea must be proportional to the amplitude of the vibration set up in that part. I think this assumption is unwarranted, as the intensity of the sensory impression may vary also with the rapidity and the rate of change of direction of the movement imparted to the cilia of the hair-cells; i.e. as the total energy of the stimulus, not its amplitude only. Even supposing Dr. Perrett's assumption were correct, still Yoshii's deductions are not invalidated. Take the case in which he found that after prolonged subjection to high-pitched noise the basal portion of the cochlea showed degeneration. He deduces the logical conclusion that a high-pitched note stimulates the basal portion of the cochlea. It does not matter whether the stimulus thus applied were small as compared with that produced in the apical region by a prolonged low note or not. The apical region remained unaffected because it was not stimulated at all.