In defence of the travelling wave concept.

For a period of about 15 years, L. Naftalin has raised objections against the travelling-wave concept of Békésy; these objections formed the point of departure for his own biochemical theory of cochlear stimulation. Others have, quite frequently, expressed similar objections; these can often be traced to some misconceptions concerning the travelling-wave phenomenon. This review will critically examine the pros and cons of the issue. The evidence presented is hoped to indicate that the travelling-wave concept is best able to account for the events underlying cochlear stimulation, as understood today, since it is well-supported, not only by Békésy's own evidence, but also by that supplied by many other authors since.