Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Hearing

Hearing

When we hear a sound, our nervous system is detecting sound waves—pressure waves of mechanical energy traveling through a medium. The frequency of the wave is perceived as pitch, while the amplitude is perceived as loudness.

Hair Cells

Hair Cells

Hair cells are the sensory receptors of the auditory system—they transduce mechanical sound waves into electrical energy that the nervous system can understand. Hair cells are located in the organ of Corti within the cochlea of the inner ear, between the basilar and tectorial membranes. The actual sensory receptors are called inner hair cells. The outer hair cells serve other functions, such as sound amplification in the cochlea, and are not discussed in detail here.

The Cochlea

The Cochlea

The cochlea is a coiled structure in the inner ear that contains hair cells—the sensory receptors of the auditory system. Sound waves are transmitted to the cochlea by small bones attached to the eardrum called the ossicles, which vibrate the oval window that leads to the inner ear. This causes fluid in the chambers of the cochlea to move, vibrating the basilar membrane.

Auditory Pathway

Auditory Pathway

Auditory pathways constitute the complex neural circuits responsible for transmitting and interpreting auditory information from the peripheral auditory system to the brain. Sound waves are initially captured by the outer ear, funneled through the ear canal, and reach the tympanic membrane (eardrum). These vibrations are transmitted via the middle ear's ossicles to the inner ear's cochlea.
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking the...

Cerebral Hemispheres

Cerebral Hemispheres

The human brain, a complex organ, is functionally divided into two cerebral hemispheres—left and right. These hemispheres are interconnected by a structure of paramount importance, the corpus callosum. This substantial bundle of neural fibers is not just a bridge between the hemispheres but a crucial element for the brain's comprehensive functioning. It enables efficient communication between the two hemispheres, allowing each side of the brain to control and receive sensory and motor...

Lateralization

Lateralization

Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Electrode Configuration for Auditory Brainstem Response Audiometry.

American journal of audiology·2015

Same author

Establishing Clinical Norms for Auditory Brainstem Response.

American journal of audiology·2015

Same author

Effects of Maternal Cocaine Abuse on Neonatal Auditory Brainstem Responses.

American journal of audiology·2015

Same author

The contribution of GJB2 mutations to slight or mild hearing loss in Australian elementary school children.

Journal of medical genetics·2006

Same author

Prevalence and nature of connexin 26 mutations in children with non-syndromic deafness.

The Medical journal of Australia·2001

Same author

Distortion product otoacoustic emission suppression in subjects with auditory neuropathy.

Ear and hearing·2001

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Central and Divided Visual Field Presentation of Emotional Images to Measure Hemispheric Differences in Motivated Attention

Central and Divided Visual Field Presentation of Emotional Images to Measure Hemispheric Differences in Motivated Attention

Published on: November 16, 2017

Asymmetric cochlear processing mimics hemispheric specialization.

Y S Sininger¹, B Cone-Wesson

¹Division of Head and Neck Surgery, University of California-Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine, 62-132 Center for Health Science, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1624, USA. ysininger@mednet.ucla.edu

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|September 14, 2004

Summary

Neonates show distinct otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) based on sound type and ear. These ear-based auditory processing differences may support brain lateralization of hearing.

More Related Videos

A Method to Study Adaptation to Left-Right Reversed Audition

A Method to Study Adaptation to Left-Right Reversed Audition

Published on: October 29, 2018

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

Published on: July 31, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Central and Divided Visual Field Presentation of Emotional Images to Measure Hemispheric Differences in Motivated Attention

Central and Divided Visual Field Presentation of Emotional Images to Measure Hemispheric Differences in Motivated Attention

Published on: November 16, 2017

A Method to Study Adaptation to Left-Right Reversed Audition

A Method to Study Adaptation to Left-Right Reversed Audition

Published on: October 29, 2018

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice

Published on: July 31, 2019

Area of Science:

Auditory Neuroscience
Developmental Neuroscience
Otoacoustic Emissions

Background:

Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) reflect cochlear activity during sound processing.
Auditory system development in neonates involves complex neural pathways.
Understanding early auditory processing is crucial for identifying developmental trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate ear-specific processing of different auditory stimuli in neonates.
To explore the relationship between peripheral auditory processing and brain lateralization.
To determine if otoacoustic emissions reveal early signs of auditory lateralization.

Main Methods:

Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) were measured in neonates' left and right ears.
Two stimulus types were used: rapid clicks and sustained tones.
Stimulus-evoked OAEs were analyzed for amplitude differences between ears and stimulus types.

Main Results:

OAEs were significantly larger to sustained tones in the left ear.
OAEs were significantly larger to rapid clicks in the right ear.
These ear-specific responses suggest differential peripheral processing of auditory stimuli.

Conclusions:

Neonatal auditory processing exhibits ear-specific characteristics.
Differences in OAEs may indicate peripheral contributions to auditory lateralization.
Ear-based processing differences could facilitate the development of asymmetric auditory functions in the brain.