Drawing and animation: S. Blatrix; editing S. Irving
The auditory brain receives the signals sent by the cochlea, interprets them and starts either reflexes or conscious perception, depending upon motivation and alertness. It is also responsible for the creation of memories, which is vital for future percepts!
Auditory brain centres |
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Auditory nerve fibres transmit the signals sent from the cochlea to the brain. In the brain, numerous relay stations (groups of neurones) receive the signals and decode them (soft or loud sound, high or low, its location etc.) in order to cause a sensation or conscious perception. In exchange, the brain can alter how the cochlea functions. For example, in the general noise of a cocktail party we are able to focus on a friendly conversation, even though our ears are getting stimulated by many different sources, which are often louder. Our brain has "asked" to prioritise the information coming from the interesting conversation! |
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Auditory perception depends upon our alertness |
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Sound, which is transformed in the ear into a neural signal, is processed in the brain at a number of different levels: |
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Follow the sound signal through the brain when awake and asleep |
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Notes |
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