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Related Concept Videos

Hearing01:31

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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.
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The human brain perceives pitch through two primary mechanisms reflected in place theory and frequency theory. Each mechanism describes how sound waves are interpreted as specific pitches by the brain, offering insights into the intricate processes of auditory perception.
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The auditory system is essential for sound perception, utilizing various critical structures. When sound waves enter the outer ear, they travel through the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the middle ear, where three tiny bones – the malleus, incus, and stapes – amplify the sound. This amplification is crucial, as it ensures that the sound vibrations are strong enough to be conveyed to the inner ear. These vibrations then reach the...
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Sound waves can be modeled either as longitudinal waves, wherein the molecules of the medium oscillate around an equilibrium position, or as pressure waves. When two identical waves from the same source superimpose on each other, the combination of two crests or two troughs results in amplitude reinforcement known as constructive interference. If two identical waves, that are initially in phase, become out of phase because of different path lengths, the combination of crests with troughs...
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The human ear cannot distinguish between two sources of sound if they happen to reach within a specific time interval, typically 0.1 seconds apart. More than this, and they are perceived as separate sources.
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Humans perceive sound by hearing. The human ear helps sound waves reach the brain, which then interprets the waves and creates the perception of hearing. The loudness of the environment in which a person is located determines whether they can distinguish between different sound sources.
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Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
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Coping with a changing soundscape: avoidance, adjustments and adaptations.

Dominique A Potvin1

  • 1Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia. dominique.potvin@anu.edu.au.

Animal Cognition
|May 25, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Anthropogenic noise impacts wildlife communication and cognition. However, animals utilize cognitive abilities like learning and sensory flexibility to adapt to noisy environments, highlighting their remarkable resilience.

Keywords:
Anthropogenic noiseBioacousticsCommunicationUrban ecology

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Anthropogenic noise is a pervasive environmental pollutant impacting wildlife communication.
  • Noise can mask acoustic signals, reduce communication space, and affect biological processes.
  • Cognitive abilities may allow animals to adapt to anthropogenic noise.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review how anthropogenic noise affects cognitive processes in animals.
  • To explore how animal cognition facilitates coping with noisy environments.
  • To identify knowledge gaps for future research on noise impacts and animal adaptability.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on birds due to available research.
  • Analysis of studies on cognitive processes affected by noise.
  • Examination of research on cognitive mechanisms for noise adaptation.

Main Results:

  • Cognitive processes are significantly affected by anthropogenic noise.
  • Animals employ learning, behavioral flexibility, and multi-modal sensing to cope with noise.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for mitigating noise impacts.

Conclusions:

  • Animal cognition plays a vital role in adapting to anthropogenic noise.
  • Further research is needed on noise impacts on predation, neurotransmitters, and stress.
  • Mitigation strategies can be informed by understanding animal adaptability to noise.