Acoustic information is detected by inner hair cells in mammalian cochlea and is transmitted to the brain via the auditory nerve. But auditory nerve activity is evident before the cochlear machinery develops the ability to process information. The mechanism that underlies this effect has been uncovered in a series of experiments, showing that supporting cells located in Kölliker's organ spontaneously release ATP, activating inner hair cells and thus auditory nerve fibres.
- Nicolas X. Tritsch
- Eunyoung Yi
- Dwight E. Bergles
