  Current scientific consensus holds that sound is transmitted, solely
mechanically, from the tympanum to the cochlea via ossicles. But this theory
does not explain the hearing extreme quality regarding high frequencies in
mammals. So, we propose a bioelectronic pathway (the covert path) that is
complementary to the overt path.. We demonstrate experimentally that the
tympanum produces piezoelectric potentials isochronous to acoustic vibrations
thanks to its collagen fibers and that their amplitude increases along with the
frequency and level of the vibrations. This finding supports the existence of
an electrical pathway, specialized in transmitting high-frequency sounds, that
works in unison with the mechanical pathway. A bio-organic triode, similar to a
field effect transistor, is the key mechanism of our hypothesized pathway. We
present evidence that any deficiency along this pathway produces hearing
impairment. By augmenting the classical theory of sound transmission, our
discovery offers new perspectives for research into both normal and
pathological audition and may contribute to an understanding of genetic and
physiological problems of hearing.
