The design of a lumped parameter model considering the stimulus path of round window

BACKGROUND: Sound normally enters the ear canal, passes through the middle ear, and stimulates the cochlea through the oval window. Alternatively, the cochlea can be stimulated in a reverse manner, namely round window stimulation. The reverse stimulation is not well understood, partly because in classic lumped-parameter models the path of reverse drive during the round window stimulation is usually not considered. OBJECTIVE: The study goal is to gain a better understanding of the hearing mechanism during round window stimulation. METHODS: A piezo actuator was coupled to the oval and round window of the guinea pigs. The auditory brainstem response produced by the forward and reverse stimulation at four frequencies was recorded. RESULTS: The results show that the input voltage of the actuator required at the hearing threshold in the round window drive was higher than that in the oval window drive. In order to understand the data, we designed a lumped-parameter cochlear model that can simulate both forward and reverse drive. The model-predicted results were consistent with the experimental results. CONCLUSIONS: The response of the auditory system to stimulus of oval window and round window was quantified through animal experimentation, and guinea pigs were used as experimental animals. When the same stimulus was applied to the oval window and round window of the cochlea, the ABR signals were compared. A lumped parameter model was designed to incorporate the sound transmission paths in both oval and round window stimulation. The simulated results are consistent with those of animal experiments. This model will be useful in understanding the inner-ear response in round window.