James J. Finneran
Mardi C. Hastings
Dept. of Mech. Eng., Ohio State Univ., 206 W. 18th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210
In this study, a dynamic, lumped parameter mathematical model was developed for the peripheral auditory system of the goldfish (Carassius auratus). This model expands upon and couples existing models for the swimbladder (anterior chamber) and saccular otolith by including the swimbladder tunica interna and tunica externa, along with the Weberian apparatus. The viscoelastic properties of the tunica externa are based on data from Alexander [J. Exp. Biol. 38, 747--757 (1961)]. Model predictions correlate well with experimental data for swimbladder resonance frequency and damping and with audiograms obtained from behavioral conditioning experiments. Model results indicate that the Weberian apparatus has a major affect on auditory sensitivity throughout the audible frequency range of the goldfish. In addition, specific phase relationships between the Weberian, direct, and indirect contributions to saccular otolith motion are observed for changing source location. [Work supported by ONR Grant No. N00014-94-1-0337.]