9315854 Miles This award will fund a project focused on understanding the directional characteristics of an invertebrate's ear which, because of its size and placement, must use novel mechanisms to localize sounds. The study will investigate both the mechanics and the neurophysiology of the system to determine if novel phase delay mechanisms are responsible for the unique capability. This proposal was submitted to the Biosystems Analysis and Control Initiative which encouraged the submission of proposals that through the study of neurophysiological systems could advance engineering science and advance the knowledge of biological systems through the use of engineering analysis techniques. The research being funded by this award has the potential to lead to advances in sensory system processes and, in addition, should enable engineers to discover new methods to detect acoustic signals for use in other engineering applications. ***
