Mathematical Model of Outer Hair Cells in the Cochlea

Abstract

In this thesis, a mathematical model of the OHC in the cochlea for different vibration modes is developed, including the coupling of the cell lateral wall and cellular fluids. The lateral wall is modeled as a cylindrical composite shell. For the cellular fluids, two fluids models, inviscid and viscous flows, are used. With the fluids modeled as an inviscid flow, the frequency responses for different vibration modes are obtained using two different numerical methods: an all finite difference method and a coupled boundary element/finite difference method. The inviscid flow model is also extended to a viscous flow model by including the fluid viscosity in the model. Using a simple kinematic model of the organ of Corti, the contributions of the first two vibration modes to the streocilium deflection are analyzed. Finally, a feedback model of the cochlear partition is developed to obtain the OHC activity in the cochlea.