Seiteninhalt

Doreen Möckel

Doctoral student

Research project

Cellular mechanisms of active mechanical sound amplification in simple hearing organs

Active mechanical amplification of low level sound guarantees exceptional hearing sensitivity and sharp frequency tuning in hearing organs. By-product and indicator of such mechanisms are otoacoustic emissions (OAEs). Tympanal organs of insects generate otoacoustic emissions whose characteristics correspond to those measured in vertebrates. My PhD project aims to determine the source of OAEs in tympanal organs. I want to use OAE- and electrophysiological recordings from different insect auditory organs to study cellular mechanisms of mechanical amplification. The contribution of single sensory cells to auditory amplification and generation of acoustic energy will be assessed by comparing species with very simple tympanal organs (Noctuoid moths) with species that have more complex ears (bush cricket, locusts). Because of their morphology, sensory cells in tympanal organs provide an easier accessibility of for manipulations than vertebrate ears. Sensory cells will be manipulated pharmacologically and mechanically to influence specific cellular components that could be involved in force generation in insect hearing organs.