Studies into the vibration modes of the stapes in response to acoustic stimulation of the normal ear have revealed a complex movement pattern of its footplate. These complex vibrations can be expressed as one translational displacement and two rotational movements around the long and short axes of the stapes, known as the three elementary motions. According to the classical theory of hearing, the rotational motions induce no volume displacement of cochlear fluid and, therefore, no cochlear activity (i.e. hearing sensation). It is the goal of this study to verify this hypothesis.
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