Efferent Neurotransmission to Cochlear Hair Cells: From Molecules to Physiology

ELGOYHEN AB

Washington DC, USA

Congreso; Minisymposium: Hair Cells: Transduction, Transmission and Regeneration.; 2005

35th Annual Meeting, Society for Neuroscience

The cochlea, the sensory organ for the hearing process, is under the control of the central nervous system. Although the existence of this neural system has been known for more than 50 years, our understanding of its functions has proved elusive, and is only now being unveiled. Although the evidence is still fragmentary, the picture coming into focus is that one of the principal missions of these cochlear efferent system is to provide a means to control the dynamic range of hearing, to enhance sound detection above noise and to protect the inner ear from acoustic trauma. We will describe recent progress we have made towards understanding the molecules involved in this process.