Violent Hearing Chemistry

2002/05/03 Carton Virto, Eider - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Anatomia/Fisiologia

Researchers at the School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins, have studied small cells in the inner ear of mice to explain how the evolution of electric waves/signals occurs. So far, some cells in the inner ear knew that when the sound wave was detected a leak of chemical compounds occurred, but the characteristics of the leak were not very clear.

In the mouse they have seen that the leakage occurs by tiny hair-shaped cells and that the leakage is directed towards the nerve next to it. These cells are called “hair cells” because they are like an upright hair. The discovery surprised researchers, who considered these cells capable of producing such violent spills. Until now it was thought that cells only emitted transmitters once, not continuously.

Researchers believe that cells get better control of the signals emitted thanks to continuous fluence, as they must accurately indicate changes in sound intensity and frequency. In addition, because nerves need a minimal amount of chemical compounds to emit the signal to the brain, it is considered that the success of the operation is guaranteed by intense and continuous runoff.