Introduction to the Auditory system

Functions of hearing

• monitoring important signals
• alerting
• communication
• well-being in the broad sense

Physical properties of sound

• Frequency - the number of cycles per second
• Amplitude - the pressure of the wave (intensity)

The perceptual attributes of sound

• Pitch - corresponds most closely to frequency
• Loudness - corresponds to amplitude
• Timbre - perception of sound quality, corresponds to the complexity of a sound

The Auditory system

1. Peripheral auditory system
2. Central auditory system

Component parts of the human ear

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• The auditory cortex is located in the temporal lobe
• The primary auditory cortex is mapped tonotopically
• Functional specialisation in 'higher' auditory areas
• Processing is hierarchal
• Functional lateralisation

Hearing loss and deafness

3 main causes: 

1. Conduction deafness - disorders of the outer and middle ear that prevent sounds from reacing the cochlea
2. Sensorineural deafness - originates from cochlear or auditory nerve lesions
3. Central deafness - hearing loss caused by brain lesions (such as stroke), with complex results e.g. Cortical deafness (Graham, Greenwood & Lecky, 1980)

Treatments for deafness

• Auditory perception underlies a number of important functions (alerting, orienting, communication)
• Auditory system is complex, sophisticated and challenging (for us researchers)
• It is also sensitive and must be looked after- especially in the era of personalised music