Molecular Dynamics Study On Neural Coding Of Auditory

Basilar membrane vibration in the Cochlea is important for the frequency and intensity discrimination of sound.Previous models for basilar membrane vibration doesn't take into account the influences caused by different speeds(i.e.,delay effect) of outer hair cells own motion(i.e.,OHC electromotility),and can't comprehensively describe the active effect of OHC in the basilar membrane vibration.Therefore,we introduce a new model,which includes the delay effect of OHC electromotility.According to the simulations,the new model complies with physiological features of OHC electromotility and illustrates a novel comprehe -nsion of the contribution of OHC electromotility on basilar membrane vibration.Membrane protein Prestin is the key component of OHC electromotility,and crucial to the Cochlea amplification and frequency selectivity of the mammalian ear.The Prestin performance is critically dependent on chloride ions,and intrinsic protein charges also play a role.To research the frequency and voltage dependence of electric charge (i.e.,anion and protein charges)transfer by Prestin when the applied electric field exists,We introduce an new electro-diffusion model.This model uses a Fokker-Planck equation to describe the kinetics of the translocated charge.The results from this model are consistent with experimental observations,and are important for further analysis of the structure and function of Prestin.