The mechanical response of the basilar membrane in the cochlea plays a fundamental role in human hearing. This volume discusses the main aspects of cochlear compression, including anatomy and physiology; the perceptual consequences of compression in normal hearing; the effects of hearing loss on compression; and its function in hearing aids and cochlear implants. The role of compression has increasing practical significance as it is incorporated into hearing aids and cochlear implants to compensate for inadequate compression in people with cochlear hearing loss.

The Springer Handbook of Auditory Research presents a series of comp- hensive and synthetic reviews of the fundamental topics in modern au- tory research.The volumes are aimed at all individuals with interests in hearing research including advanced graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and clinical investigators.The volumes are intended to int- duce new investigators to important aspects of hearing science and to help established investigators to better understand the fundamental theories and data in ?elds of hearing that they may not normally follow closely. Each volume is intended to present a particular topic comprehensively, and each chapter will serve as a synthetic overview and guide to the lit- ature.As such the chapters present neither exhaustive data reviews nor original research that has not yet appeared in peer-reviewed journals.The volumes focus on topics that have developed a solid data and conceptual foundation rather than on those for which a literature is only beginning to develop. New research areas will be covered on a timely basis in the series as they begin to mature.