A recent study suggests the cochlea's DC signal educates the brain about ear health.
Understanding its significance may help diagnose noise-induced hearing impairments & decipher weak noises.
Hair cell membrane potassium ion channels generate DC signals. For 70 years, the cochlea's DC signal has been a mystery.
It may tell the brain the ear's health. Understanding the DC signal helps diagnose noise-induced hearing impairments and decipher faint noises.
Potassium ion channels release ions across hair cell membranes to create the DC signal.
The brain receives information from a cochlear signal, which was discovered 70 years ago.
A new study helps clarify what happens in the ear in hazardous noise-induced hearing impairment and may help diagnose noise-induced hearing injury.
The cochlea has 15,000 hair cells. Hair cells convert sound waves into nerve impulses.
The brain analyzes these signals before we hear sound. Hair cell signals are AC & DC. Well-studied AC signal.
It informs the brain of sound volume and pitch. The DC signal remains a mystery. Researchers have pondered its purpose since its discovery 70 years ago.
This signal may help the brain decipher weak noises by informing the body if the ear is healthy.