ABSTRACT
We have already discussed the manner in which the conductive mechanism influences the signal and transmits it to the inner ear. In this chapter we will concentrate upon the sensory mechanism. The cochlea may be conceived of as a transducer that converts the vibratory stimulus into a form usable by the nervous system. However, this is far from the whole picture. We shall see that the cochlea performs a considerable amount of analysis, that it is the major source of aural distortion, and that it is involved in processes that are active as well as passive.
