The focus of my research interests is on the process of sound transduction in the ear and the influence of ear damage on this transduction process.
Acoustic Signal Transduction in the Insect Ear
In the ear sound-induced motion leads to the opening of mechano-sensitive ion channels in the sensory cell, which is the first step of sound perception. This mechano-electrical transduction process is object of my current investigations. Here, at first the transduction of sound energy in a mechanical response of the hearing organ tissue is examined by laser Doppler interferometry. By investigations of the high frequency hearing organ (crista acustica) of the tropical bushcricket Mecopoda elongata we were able to discover traveling-wave like responses (see animation below and Palghat Udajyshankar et al. 2012). Traveling waves were also found in the mammalian inner ear, with the enormous disadvantage that the hearing organ is difficult to access. Whereas the insect ear system allow free access of the whole ear structure in an intact living system.
Moreover, we investigate the motion-induced response of the sensory cells. Pure-tone induced recordings of the leg nerve helped us to learn more about the frequency sensitivity of the Mecopoda ear in the foreleg of the animal and we were able to find resonances in the system that corresponds to the song spectrum of the animal (Hummel et al. 2011).
Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (NO 841/1-1) "Nachwuchswissenschaftler/innen im Fokus" Goethe Universität
Recent Publication:
Palghat Udayashankar A.; Kössl M.; Nowotny M.(2012) In-vivo measurements of tonotopically ordered traveling waves. PLoS One. 7(2): e31008
Hummel, J.; Kössl, M.;Nowotny, M. (2011) ?Sound-induced tympanal membrane motion in bushcrickets and its relation to the sensory output? J Exp Biol 214: 3596-3604
Acoustic Trauma Induced Tinnitus
Beside the basic research project on acoustic signal transduction we are interested in the effect of inner ear damage and resulting change in the transduction process that results in the development of tinnitus. To address this project we examine trauma-induced tinnitus in the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus. For the tinnitus detection we use the acoustic startle response of the animal that allows a precise frequency analysis of the induced tinnitus (Nowotny et al. 2011).
Staff: Lenneke Kiefer and Julian Lang
Funding: Adolf-Messer Stiftungspreis 2009
Recent Publication: Nowotny M.;Remus M.; Kössl M.; Gaese B.H.(2011) Characterization of the Perceived Sound of Trauma-Induced Tinnitus in Gerbils. J Acoust Soc Am 130(5): 2827-2834
PalghatUdayashankar A.; Kössl M.; Nowotny M. (2012). In-vivo measurements of tonotopically ordered traveling waves. PLoS One. 7(2): e31008.
Möckel, D.; Lang, J.; Kössl, M.Nowotny, M. (2012). Temperature-dependence of DPOAEs in tympanal organs. J Exp Biol accepted.
2011
Nowotny M.; Remus M.; Kössl M.; Gaese B.H. (2011). Characterization of the Perceived Sound of Trauma-Induced Tinnitus in Gerbils. J Acoust Soc Am 130(5): 2827-2834.
Hummel J.; Kössl M.;Nowotny M. (2011). Sound-induced tympanal membrane motion in bushcrickets and its relation to the sensory output. J Exp Biol 214: 3596-3604.
Nowotny M.; Gummer A.W. (2011). Vibration responses of the organ of Corti and the tectorial membrane to electrical stimulation. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. Volume 130: 3852-3872.
Palghat Udayashankar A.; Kössl M.; Nowotny M. (2011). Tonotopically ordered traveling waves in the hearing organs of bushcrickets in-vivo. In: Mechanics of Hearing. Shera C. and Olson E. (Eds.). World Scientific, Singapore, New Jersey, London, Hong Kong, pp. 466-472.
Nowotny M.; Weber M.; Palghat Udayashankar A.; Hummel J.; Kössl M. (2011). Sound Transduction in the Auditory System of Bushcrickets. In: Mechanics of Hearing. Shera C. and Olson E. (Eds.). World Scientific, Singapore, New Jersey, London, Hong Kong, pp. 461-465.
Fleischer M.; Harasztosi C.; Nowotny M.; Zahnert T.; Gummer A.W. (2011). Continuum Mechanical Model of the Outer Hair Cell. In: Mechanics of Hearing. Shera C. and Olson E. (Eds.). World Scientific, Singapore, New Jersey, London, Hong Kong, pp. 160-165.
2010
Nowotny, M.; Hummel, J.; Weber, M.; Möckel, D.; Kössl, M. (2010). Acoustic-induced motion of the bushcricket (Mecopoda elongata, Tettigoniidae) tympanum. J Comp Physiol A 196: 939-945.
2009
Gaese, B. H. ; Nowotny, M. ; Pilz, P. K. D. (2009). Acoustic startle and prepulse inhibition in the Mongolian gerbil. Physiology & Behavior 98: 460-466.
2006
Nowotny, M.; Gummer, A.W. (2006). Nanomechanics of the subtectorial space caused by electromechanics of cochlear outer hair cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103: 2120-2125.
Nowotny, M.; Gummer, A.W. (2006). Elektromechanische Transduktion: Einfluss der äußeren Haarsinneszellen auf das Bewegungsmuster des Corti-Organs. HNO 54: 536-543.
Gummer, A. W.; Nowotny, M.; Scherer, M. P.; Vete?ník, A. (2006). Pulsating fluid motion and deflecting of the stereocilia of the inner hair cells due to the electromechanics of the outer hair cells. In: Nuttall, A.. L.; Ren, T.; Gillespie, P.; Grosh, K.; de Boer, E. (Hrsg.): Auditory Mechanisms: Processes and Models. World Scientific, New Jersey, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, pp. 101?102.
Nowotny, M.; Gummer, A. W. (2006). What do the OHCs move with their electromotility? In: Nuttall, A. L.; Ren, T.; Gillespie, P.; Grosh, K.; de Boer, E. (Hrsg.): Auditory Mechanisms: Processes and Models. World Scientific, New Jersey, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, pp. 17?25.
2003
Scherer, M. P.; Nowotny, M.; Dalhoff, E.; Zenner, H. P.; Gummer, A. W. (2003). High-frequency vibration of the organ of Corti in vitro. In: Gummer, A. W. (Hrsg.): Biophysics of the Cochlea: from Molecules to Models. World Scientific, New Jersey, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, pp. 271-277.
2000
Martin T.; Nowotny M. (2000). The docodont Haldanodon from the Guimarota mine.- In: Martin T & Krebs B (eds.) Guimarota , a Jurassic Ecosystem. Pfeil Verlag. München.
Nowotny M., Remus M., Kössl M., Gaese B. 2011.Trauma-induced tinnitus in gerbils centers around the induction frequency. In: Santi PA (ed.) Abstracts of the 34th Annual Midwinter Research Meeting., Association for Research in Otolaryngology.# 188
Hummel J., Kössl M., Nowotny M. 2011. Does the auditory nerve activity reflect the tympanal membrane motion in bushcrickets? 8th Göttingen Meeting of the German Neuroscience Society. # T17-8A.
Lang J., Kössl M., Nowotny M. 2011. Temperature dependence of DPOAEs in grasshoppers. 8th Göttingen Meeting of the German Neuroscience Society. # T17-2C.
Hummel, J., Kössl, M. und Nowotny, M. (2011). Functional coupling of tympanal membrane motion and tympanal nerve response. ?Invertebrate Sound and Vibration, 13th International Meeting?.
Remus M., Gaese B., Kössl M., Nowotny M. 2011. Trauma-induced tinnitus in gerbils centers around the induction frequency. 8th Göttingen Meeting of the German Neuroscience Society. # T17-8C.
Udajashankar A.P., Kössl M., Nowotny M. 2011. Auditory mechanics of bushcrickets in-vivo. 8th Göttingen Meeting of the German Neuroscience Society. # T17-4A.
Nowotny, M., Palghat Udayashankar, A., Weber, M., Hummel, J. und Kössl, M. (2011). Sound Transduction in the Auditory System of Bushcrickets.?Mechanics of Hearing 2011, The 11th International
2010
Fleischer, M.; Zahnert, T.; Harasztosi, C.; Nowotny, M.; Baumgart, J.; Gummer, A.W. (2010). ?OHC Somatic Electromechanical Force Coupled Directly to the IHC Stereocilia. Assoc Res Otolaryngol Abs: 670.
Martin, T.; Nowotny, M.; Fischer, M. (2010). New data on tooth replacement in the Late Jurassic docodont mammal Haldanodon expectatus. 70th Anniversary Meeting Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Program and Abs: 130A
2009
Nowotny, M. ; Möckel, D. ; Weber, M. ; Kössl, M. (2009). ?Sound induced vibration pattern on the tympanal membranes of the bushcricket Mecopoda elongata.? 8th Göttingen Meeting of the German Neuroscience Society: T17-1C.
Gaese, B. ; Nowotny, M. ; Pilz, P. K. D. (2009). ?Acoustic startle response in the wild-type and domesticated Mongolian gerbil? 8th Göttingen Meeting of the German Neuroscience Society: T18-6B.
Gummer, A.W. ; Chiaradia, C. ; Nowotny, M. (2009). OHC Somatic Electromechanical Force Coupled Directly to the IHC Stereocilia. Assoc Res Otolaryngol Abs: 256.
Chiaradia C. ; Nowotny, M. ; Gummer A.W. (2009). OHC induced vibration pattern of the basilar membrane. In: Cooper, N.P. and Kemp, D.T. (Eds.): Concepts and Challenges in the Biophysics of Hearing. World Scientific, Singapore, New Jersey, London, Hong Kong: 283-287.
2008
Chiaradia, C.; Nowotny, M.; Gummer, A. W. (2008): Deflection of IHC Stereocilia by OHC Somatic Electromotility. Assoc Res Otolaryngol Abs: 176.
Eckrich, T.; Nowotny, M.; Harasztosi, C.; Scherer, M.; Gummer, A. W. (2008): Impedance Measurements of Isolated Outer Hair Cells. Assoc Res Otolaryngol Abs: 179.
2006
Nowotny, M.; Gummer, A. W. (2006). Influence of electrically-induced mobility of outer hair cells on the organ of Corti motion. Assoc Res Otolaryngol Abs: 997.
2005
Nowotny, M.; Gummer, A. W. (2005). Outer hair cell induced motion of the organ of Corti: Mechanisms of active amplification.
In: Elsner, N. ; Zimmermann, H. (Hrsg.): The Neurosciences from Basic Research to Therapy. Proceedings of the 30th Göttingen Neurobiology Conference 2005. Stuttgart, Georg Thieme: 98.
Nowotny, M.; Gummer, A. W. (2005). Influence of electrically-induced somatic mobility of outer hair cells on the basilar membrane motion. Assoc Res Otolaryngol Abs: 328.
Nowotny, M.; Gummer, A. W. (2005). OHC-induced motion of the organ of Corti. Abstract book of the 42nd Workshop on Inner Ear Biology: O11.
2004
Nowotny, M.; Zenner, H.-P.; Gummer, A. W. (2004). Impact of outer hair cell electromotility on organ of Corti vibration ? results from an in situ preparation. Assoc Res Otolaryngol Abs: 1002.
2003
Nowotny, M.; Zenner, H.-P.; Gummer, A. W. (2003). The motion of the subtectorial space and its resulting fluid motion in the guinea pig cochlea. In: Elsner, N.; Zimmermann, H. (Hrsg.): The Neurosciences from Basic Research to Therapy. Proceedings of the 29th Göttingen Neurobiology Conference 2003. Stuttgart, Georg Thieme: 328.
Nowotny, M.; Scherer, M. P.; Zenner, H.-P.; Gummer, A. W. (2003). Stimulus induced volume change in the subtectorial space of the organ of Corti. Assoc Res Otolaryngol Abs: 112.
Nowotny, M.; Zenner, H.-P.; Gummer, A. W. (2003). Electrically induced motion of the organ of Corti in the guinea-pig cochlea and its possible effect on the response of inner hair cells. Abs 96. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft: P5.
Gummer, A. W.; Nowotny, M.; Scherer, M. P.; Zenner, H.-P.(2003). Laserinterferometrische Untersuchung des subtectorialen Spaltes der Säugetiercochlea. HNO 28: 147.
2002
Gummer, A. W.; Scherer, M. P.; Nowotny, M. (2002). Coupling of electromechanical force into the organ of Corti. Assoc Res Otolaryngol Abs: 720.
Scherer, M. P.; Nowotny, M.; Gummer, A. W. (2002). High frequency vibration modes in the organ of Corti. Assoc Res Otolaryngol Abs: 911.
2001
Nowotny, M.; Martin, T.; Fischer, M. (2001). Dental anatomy and tooth replacement of Haldanodon exspectatus (Docodonta, Mammalia) from the Upper Jura of Portugal. Journal of Morphology 248, 3: 268.
