The auditory nerve can represent firing-rate differences reliably over about of…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Mechanics & Dynamical Systems · Biophysics & Medical Physics · Bioelectricity, the senses and the physics of the body
Forces, Machines and Signals, Ch Hearing: from air pressure to a gated channel
Problem
The auditory nerve can represent firing-rate differences reliably over about 20dB of response amplitude.
((a)) If the cochlear amplifier compresses with A∝F1/3 near its best frequency, over what range of stimulus level, in decibels, can the response stay within that 20dB window?
((b)) A hypothetical non-compressive (linear) system has A∝F. Over what stimulus range, in decibels, would its response stay within the same 20dB window?