They produce depolarizations when bent in one direction and hyperpolarizations when bent in the opposite direction. They contain actin filaments which make them stiff and rigid. The round window moves in and out in opposition to movements of the Eustachian tube. Most of the neurons in the cochlear nuclei send axons directly to the auditory cortex. Progressive hair cell damage from the use of certain antibiotics causes a parallel progressive hearing loss, which suggests that some sounds are detected through place coding.
Musical overtones are a series of complex waveforms.
The source of continuous low-pitched sounds is detected through phase differences, which is the time interval between the arrival at each ear of different portions of the oscillating sound wave. Bilateral lesions of the auditory cortex of monkeys results in impaired ability to detect high frequency sounds. The semicircular canals respond to gravity. The vestibulo-ocular reflex depends upon vestibular connection to the third, fourth, and sixth cranial nerve nuclei. The gelatinous mass within the vestibular sacs shifts in response to movement of the cilia.