The Gems of the Past: A Brief History of Lateral Line Research in the Context of the Hearing Sciences

This chapter introduces the Springer Handbook of Auditory Research volume on the lateral line, while also reviewing the key historical players, discoveries, and debates that have shaped our understanding of lateral line function, especially in the context of the hearing sciences. Early discoveries, including the first description of the lateral line in the 17th century, as well as long-standing debates during the 19th and 20th centuries on the functional role of the lateral line with respect to the auditory system, are highlighted. In addition, several examples are described of how research on the lateral line has contributed to the hearing sciences, but also to a broader understanding of hair cell systems in general. Finally, current and future uses of the zebrafish lateral line as a model system to address basic questions in the hearing sciences, including the molecular, cellular, and genetic basis of hair cell loss and regeneration, are discussed.

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