Functional considerations

• Functional considerations
• Transduction occurs in the inner hair cells for sound frequency discrimination
• Sound intensity and a map of frequencies is relayed to inner hair cells through a single synapse by each primary afferent fiber.
• Transduction occurring in the outer three hair cell rows modulates intensity by sharpening specific frequencies. This occurs by inactivation of specific frequencies by efferent input that elongates outer hair cells. This act lifts the tectorial mbr from the inner row of hair cells. Efferents to inner row of HC’s are offset by 0.6 mm from the desired frequency. This surround selection of frequency is a focusing mechanism that improves the fidelity of the auditory system.