[Processing of acoustic stimuli in the inner ear--a review of recent research results].

This review presents recent findings on the micromechanics of the basilar membrane. Active processes are essential for basilar membrane motion. It may be that contractile proteins within the outer hair cells play an important role for this amplification. The coding of acoustic information within the auditory nerve depends on spectral analysis (place information) as well as on the time structure of the stimulus. This latter time analysis seems to play a major role.