Mechanical Noise Enhances Signal Transmission in the Bullfrog Sacculus / 听力学及言语疾病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study whether mechanical noise acting on the sacculus could enhance the SNR of the 8th nerve’s response.Methods Driving PZT by adding white noise of various level to periodic signals(f=100 Hz),the directly mechanical stimuli was give to the five sacculus submerged in a solution containing perilymph-like, and the afferent activity the 8th nerve was recorded.Results The SNR of the nerve signal was improved by addition nanometer-level noise to the periodic stimuli in all responsive animal(4.1 dB, on average).It was found that 2.3 nm of mechanical noise enhanced the response of the saccular nerve.Conclusion The addition of a few nanometers of noise to a periodic stimuli leads to a substantial improvement in the SNR of the nerve’s response.