Georgia Tech Research Corporation will receive $348,286 under a three-year Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Engineering Directorate (CFDA 47.041) to conduct fundamental research on the generation of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions by the inner ear. The research aims to advance understanding of the biophysical mechanisms by which the ear generates sounds in the absence of external stimuli. The project will develop and evaluate computational models of two prevailing theories—the standing wave and coupled limit-cycle oscillator models—to predict the nonlinear dynamics and functional consequences of emissions. Researchers will investigate how external tones and internal/external noise impact emissions and sound detection. Findings seek to clarify longstanding questions about inner ear function and hearing impairment causes. The total funding will support the research through July 2026.