Bell, James Andrew2010-05-112011-01-042010-05-112011-01-04b25317490http://hdl.handle.net/1885/49307This thesis takes a fresh approach to cochlear mechanics. Over the last quarter of a century, we have learnt that the cochlea is active and highly tuned, observations suggesting that something may be resonating. Rather than accepting the standard traveling wave interpretation, here I investigate whether a resonance theory of some kind can be applied to this remarkable behaviour.¶ A historical survey of resonance theories is first conducted, and advantages and drawbacks examined. A corresponding look at the traveling wave theory includes a listing of its short-comings.¶ A new model of the cochlea is put forward that exhibits inherently high tuning. ...enmechanotransduction, outer hair cell, surface acoustic wave, squirting wave, pressure wave, traveling wave200510.25911/5d7a2c6dcff7f