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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 Jun 21.
Published in final edited form as: Volta Rev. 1997;99(5):9–28.

Figure 9.

Figure 9

Active tuning is achieved when the child pumps energy into the system. When the pumping is done at the natural frequency and at the correct time in the cycle the swing goes higher and tuning is improved. The improved tuning is best appreciated by attempting to pump at a frequency that is different than the natural frequency. In contrast with the parent pushing, no amount of pumping will make the swing move at the new frequency, in fact the magnitude of the swinging rapidly decreases. This ability to narrow the range of frequencies at which the swing will oscillate is equivalent to what the outer hair cell does in hearing.