Mathematical modelling of the role of outer hair cells in cochlear homeostasis

To understand the ways in which the cochlea maintains its exquisite auditory sensitivity in the face of daily perturbations, we have constructed a mathematical model of the homeostatic mechanisms of the organ of Corti. In particular, the role of outer hair cells in this regulation, and how the failure of these regulatory mechanisms causes hearing loss and tinnitus. This poster presents an overview of the model. We show how various cochlear perturbations (including hydrostatic bias and exposure to a low-frequency tone) can cause the homeostatic regulation mechanisms of the outer hair cells to slowly oscillate, thereby changing the endocochlear potential and modulating transmitter release [1], and causing slow oscillations in cochlear gain (the "bounce" phenomenon; [2]).