Recent Advances in Research of Cochlear Tonotopicity / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

The ability of to discern distinct sound frequencies is attributed to frequency specificity in various locations in the auditory pathway. The cochlear duct is tonotopically organized along its longitudinal axis so that the basal turn responds to high frequency and the apical turn to low frequency sounds. Since the cochlear duct is comprised of heterogeneous components including sensory hair cells, neurons and other cellular and acellular components, integration of their diverse features is essential for establishment of tonotopicity. Recent studies aim to investigate the molecular mechanisms responsible for the cochlear tonotopicity.