In recent years, sensory neuroscientists have made major efforts to dissect the structure and
function of ribbon synapses which process sensory information in the eye and ear. This …

▪ Abstract Synaptic transmission is a dynamic process. Postsynaptic responses wax and
wane as presynaptic activity evolves. This prominent characteristic of chemical synaptic …

Vesicle exocytosis releases content to mediate many biological events, including synaptic
transmission essential for brain functions. Following exocytosis, endocytosis is initiated to …

The intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca 2+]) has important roles in the triggering of
neurotransmitter release and the regulation of short-term plasticity (STP). Transmitter …

Caged compounds are light-sensitive probes that functionally encapsulate biomolecules in
an inactive form. Irradiation liberates the trapped molecule, permitting targeted perturbation …

Calcium ions are ubiquitous and versatile signaling molecules, capable of decoding a
variety of extracellular stimuli (hormones, neurotransmitters, growth factors, etc.) into …

Sound pressure fluctuations striking the ear are conveyed to the cochlea, where they vibrate
the basilar membrane on which sit hair cells, the mechanoreceptors of the inner ear …

Calcium handling by mitochondria is a key feature in cell life. It is involved in energy
production for cell activity, in buffering and shaping cytosolic calcium rises and also in …

The auditory inner hair cell (IHC) ribbon synapse operates with an exceptional temporal
precision and maintains a high level of neurotransmitter release. However, the molecular …

Abstract Models of the human auditory periphery range from very basic functional
descriptions of auditory filtering to detailed computational models of cochlear mechanics …