Postgraduate research project

Non-linear cochlear mechanics: Models and measurements

Funding
Competition funded View fees and funding
Type of degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Entry requirements
2:1 honours degree
View full entry requirements
Faculty graduate school
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
Closing date

About the project

The mechanical response of the cochlea to sound exhibits an intriguing array of different non-linear phenomena, involving interactions across time and frequency. These remain poorly understood but can be assessed using otoacoustic emissions (OAEs): low-level sounds detectable in the ear canal.

OAEs are measured by presenting sound stimuli to the ear and measuring the response. 
Though they are currently used in certain clinical applications (such as diagnosing cochlear impairments in newborn babies), many questions remain:

  1. How do features in the OAE signal relate to processes and pathologies within the cochlea?
  2. What is the optimum stimulus and recording method for assessing different cochlear impairments in different patients (e.g., children)?

This project will explore:

  • Mathematical models of non-linear cochlear mechanics that underly the generation of different classes of OAEs.
  • The design of stimulus and recording paradigms to optimise clinically relevant features of OAEs.
  • Measurements of OAEs in human volunteers using different recording paradigms.