Relationship between the Levels of DP Components and Non-Active Portions of the Basilar Membrane: Simulation Using Human Cochlear Finite-Element Model

In this study, a three-dimensional finite-element model of the human cochlea was created considering the non-linear activity of the outer hair cells (OHCs) to investigate the mechanism of the development of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). Two tones with frequencies of f(1) and f(2) were simultaneously applied to the stapes head of the model, and distortion components generated on the basilar membrane (BM) and at the stapes were calculated. The results suggested that the activity of the OHCs at the more basal part of the BM compared to the characteristic frequency position of f(2) has critical roles to generate DPOAEs.