dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaTwo adaptation processes in auditory hair cells together can provide an active amplifier
| Authors | Andrej Vilfan, Thomas Duke |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0305059 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0305059 |
| DOI | 10.1016/S0006-3495(03)74465-8 |
| Journal | Biophys. J. 85, 191-203 (2003) |
Abstract
The hair cells of the vertebrate inner ear convert mechanical stimuli to electrical signals. Two adaptation mechanisms are known to modify the ionic current flowing through the transduction channels of the hair bundles: a rapid process involves calcium ions binding to the channels; and a slower adaptation is associated with the movement of myosin motors. We present a mathematical model of the hair cell which demonstrates that the combination of these two mechanisms can produce `self-tuned critical oscillations', i.e. maintain the hair bundle at the threshold of an oscillatory instability. The characteristic frequency depends on the geometry of the bundle and on the calcium dynamics, but is independent of channel kinetics. Poised on the verge of vibrating, the hair bundle acts as an active amplifier. However, if the hair cell is sufficiently perturbed, other dynamical regimes can occur. These include slow relaxation oscillations which resemble the hair bundle motion observed in some experimental preparations.
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"abstract": "The hair cells of the vertebrate inner ear convert mechanical stimuli to\nelectrical signals. Two adaptation mechanisms are known to modify the ionic\ncurrent flowing through the transduction channels of the hair bundles: a rapid\nprocess involves calcium ions binding to the channels; and a slower adaptation\nis associated with the movement of myosin motors. We present a mathematical\nmodel of the hair cell which demonstrates that the combination of these two\nmechanisms can produce `self-tuned critical oscillations\u0027, i.e. maintain the\nhair bundle at the threshold of an oscillatory instability. The characteristic\nfrequency depends on the geometry of the bundle and on the calcium dynamics,\nbut is independent of channel kinetics. Poised on the verge of vibrating, the\nhair bundle acts as an active amplifier. However, if the hair cell is\nsufficiently perturbed, other dynamical regimes can occur. These include slow\nrelaxation oscillations which resemble the hair bundle motion observed in some\nexperimental preparations.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0305059",
"authors": [
"Andrej Vilfan",
"Thomas Duke"
],
"categories": [
"physics.bio-ph",
"q-bio"
],
"doi": "10.1016/S0006-3495(03)74465-8",
"journal_ref": "Biophys. J. 85, 191-203 (2003)",
"title": "Two adaptation processes in auditory hair cells together can provide an active amplifier",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0305059"
},
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