Christopher Shera
Christopher Shera has done extensive research in solving fundamental problems in the mechanics and physiology of the peripheral auditory system. His work focuses on how the ear amplifies, analyzes, and emits sound, and his research combines physiological measurements with theoretical modeling of the peripheral auditory system. Professor Shera’s findings have shown that to aid the detection of quiet sounds, the inner ear acts as a biological, hydro-mechanical analogue of a laser amplifier. Just as a laser emits coherent light, most healthy ears spontaneously emit sound. A Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America, he is an Associate Professor of Otology & Laryngology and Health Sciences & Technology at Harvard Medical School.