dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaAuditory Sensitivity Provided by Self-tuned Critical Oscillations of Hair Cells
| Authors | Sebastien Camalet, Thomas Duke, Frank Julicher, Jacques Prost |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0003100 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0003100 |
| DOI | 10.1073/pnas.97.7.3183 |
| Journal | Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, Vol. 97,Issue 7, 3183-3188, March 28, 2000 |
Abstract
We introduce the concept of self-tuned criticality as a general mechanism for signal detection in sensory systems. In the case of hearing, we argue that active amplification of faint sounds is provided by a dynamical system which is maintained at the threshold of an oscillatory instability. This concept can account for the exquisite sensitivity of the auditory system and its wide dynamic range, as well as its capacity to respond selectively to different frequencies. A specific model of sound detection by the hair cells of the inner ear is discussed. We show that a collection of motor proteins within a hair bundle can generate oscillations at a frequency which depends on the elastic properties of the bundle. Simple variation of bundle geometry gives rise to hair cells with characteristic frequencies which span the range of audibility. Tension-gated transduction channels, which primarily serve to detect the motion of a hair bundle, also tune each cell by admitting ions which regulate the motor protein activity. By controlling the bundle's propensity to oscillate, this feedback automatically maintains the system in the operating regime where it is most sensitive to sinusoidal stimuli. The model explains how hair cells can detect sounds which carry less energy than the background noise.
{
"annotation_id": "5259d429-b0fb-43ae-8e99-80f3b80ad45a",
"date_created": "2026-03-02T18:00:29.235000Z",
"date_modified": "2026-03-02T18:00:29.235000Z",
"file_hash": "53f7f365e0df6b940effe17104151ce97b4e5d8322a94e6edd8909c61a95c3b5",
"private": false,
"record": {
"abstract": "We introduce the concept of self-tuned criticality as a general mechanism for\nsignal detection in sensory systems. In the case of hearing, we argue that\nactive amplification of faint sounds is provided by a dynamical system which is\nmaintained at the threshold of an oscillatory instability. This concept can\naccount for the exquisite sensitivity of the auditory system and its wide\ndynamic range, as well as its capacity to respond selectively to different\nfrequencies. A specific model of sound detection by the hair cells of the inner\near is discussed. We show that a collection of motor proteins within a hair\nbundle can generate oscillations at a frequency which depends on the elastic\nproperties of the bundle. Simple variation of bundle geometry gives rise to\nhair cells with characteristic frequencies which span the range of audibility.\nTension-gated transduction channels, which primarily serve to detect the motion\nof a hair bundle, also tune each cell by admitting ions which regulate the\nmotor protein activity. By controlling the bundle\u0027s propensity to oscillate,\nthis feedback automatically maintains the system in the operating regime where\nit is most sensitive to sinusoidal stimuli. The model explains how hair cells\ncan detect sounds which carry less energy than the background noise.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0003100",
"authors": [
"Sebastien Camalet",
"Thomas Duke",
"Frank Julicher",
"Jacques Prost"
],
"categories": [
"physics.bio-ph",
"q-bio"
],
"doi": "10.1073/pnas.97.7.3183",
"journal_ref": "Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, Vol. 97,Issue 7, 3183-3188, March 28,\n 2000",
"title": "Auditory Sensitivity Provided by Self-tuned Critical Oscillations of Hair Cells",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0003100"
},
"schema_id": "dorsal/arxiv",
"source": {
"execution_id": "591d81f6-7531-4a53-94a8-a3373dffda95",
"id": "arXiv Dataset IDs",
"type": "Model",
"variant": "snapshot-2026-03-01",
"version": "0.1.0"
},
"user_id": 1000002
}