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Related Concept Videos

Hearing01:31

Hearing

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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 Cochlea01:13

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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.
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Auditory Pathway01:15

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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...
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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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Auditory Perception01:17

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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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Hair Cells01:22

Hair Cells

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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.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 18, 2026

Assessment of Audio-Tactile Sensory Substitution Training in Participants with Profound Deafness Using the Event-Related Potential Technique
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Auditory Change Complex Responses to Spectrotemporally Modulated Stimuli.

Lisbeth Birkelund Simonsen1,2,3, Jaime A Undurraga1,4, Abigail Anne Kressner2,3

  • 1Interacoustics Research Unit, Interacoustics A/S, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.

Ear and Hearing
|May 29, 2025
PubMed
Summary

An electrophysiological Audible Contrast Threshold (E-ACT) test using tonal carriers and averaged brain responses is effective for hearing assessments. This method optimizes auditory change complex (ACC) detection for individuals unable to complete traditional hearing tests.

Keywords:
Audible contrast thresholdElectrophysiologyHemispheric asymmetryInfants

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Area of Science:

  • Auditory Neuroscience
  • Electrophysiology
  • Hearing Science

Background:

  • The Audible Contrast Threshold (ACT) test is a non-language-dependent hearing assessment tool.
  • Current ACT requires active participation, posing challenges for infants and individuals with developmental differences.
  • An electrophysiological version (E-ACT) is needed to overcome participation limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To design and specify an electrophysiological ACT (E-ACT) using auditory change complex (ACC) responses.
  • To investigate optimal stimulus carriers, hemispheric differences, and ACC change direction for E-ACT design.
  • To compare strategies for defining individual E-ACT thresholds.

Main Methods:

  • Two experiments with 65 adult participants with normal hearing thresholds were conducted.
  • Stimuli included spectrotemporally modulated targets alternating with unmodulated references.
  • Electroencephalogram (EEG) data were analyzed using the Fmpi detector to assess ACC responses.

Main Results:

  • Tonal-carrier stimuli yielded significantly more detected ACC responses than noise-carrier stimuli.
  • Higher ACC detection rates were observed from the right mastoid compared to the left; averaging both mastoids yielded the highest rate.
  • The reference-to-target ('On') change direction showed a higher detection rate than target-to-reference ('Off').

Conclusions:

  • The E-ACT should utilize tonal-carrier stimuli for optimal performance.
  • Individual E-ACT thresholds should be determined using the average of left and right hemispheric ACC responses.
  • Using the individually strongest direction of auditory change during initial recording is recommended for threshold definition.