Final answer:
Stimulation of outer hair cells by motor neurons from the pons leads to increased mobility of the basilar membrane, thereby fine-tuning auditory responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
When outer hair cells of the spiral organ are stimulated by motor neurons from the pons, the resulting action is an increased mobility of the basilar membrane. The outer hair cells function to finely tune the incoming sound waves through changes in their length, effectively amplifying the movements of the basilar membrane and thereby sharpening the auditory response. This electromotility of the outer hair cells serves to enhance the sensitivity and selectivity of the auditory transduction process, allowing for more precise encoding of sound frequencies transmitted to the cochlear nerve.
When the outer hair cells of the spiral organ are stimulated by motor neurons from the pons, it results in increased mobility of the basilar membrane. The basilar membrane is responsible for detecting different wave frequencies (pitches) at different regions of the membrane. By increasing its mobility, the outer hair cells can fine-tune the incoming sound waves and enhance the ability to perceive different frequencies.