A lumped model of the neural peripheral and central nervous auditory link - qualitative view I

This paper develops a simple lumped model of the auditory link between the cochlea and the central nervous system (CNS). The model is developed for one temporal (tonotopic) segment of the periphery. The model appears to approach that of a delay line resonator. The lumped model is derived from an expanded physiological model, which is still under development. The lumped model is capable of explaining many phenomena which are important aspects of hearing. The delay line re-circulates the signal within the system; it is a delayed feedback mechanism. This signal is non-linearly limited by various physiological limitations. These combine to explain many auditory phenomena such as the base mechanism of the cochlea amplifier phase locking and masking frequency spreading functions - to name a few.