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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.

Anatomy of the Ear

Anatomy of the Ear

Auditory sensation, commonly called hearing, involves the transformation of sonic waves into neural impulses facilitated by the structures of the auditory organ. The prominent, flesh-like structure on the side of the head, called the auricle, directs sound waves towards the auditory canal. The auricle is often mislabeled as the pinna, a term more aligned with mobile structures like a feline's external ear. The auditory canal penetrates the cranium via the external auditory meatus of the...

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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 27, 2026

Imaging the Aging Cochlea with Light-Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy

Imaging the Aging Cochlea with Light-Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy

Published on: September 28, 2022

Brain morphological changes in acquired hearing loss: A surface-based morphometry study.

Hye Ah Joo¹, Hwon Heo², Tae Uk Cheon³

¹Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

|March 25, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Prolonged deafness causes brain structure changes. Sustained hearing aid use may preserve brain structure, suggesting early auditory rehabilitation is key for hearing loss patients.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 27, 2026

Imaging the Aging Cochlea with Light-Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy

Imaging the Aging Cochlea with Light-Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy

Published on: September 28, 2022

Morphological and Functional Evaluation of Ribbon Synapses at Specific Frequency Regions of the Mouse Cochlea

Morphological and Functional Evaluation of Ribbon Synapses at Specific Frequency Regions of the Mouse Cochlea

Published on: May 10, 2019

In Vivo Morphometric Analysis of Human Cranial Nerves Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Menière's Disease Ears and Normal Hearing Ears

In Vivo Morphometric Analysis of Human Cranial Nerves Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Menière's Disease Ears and Normal Hearing Ears

Published on: February 21, 2018

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Radiology
Otolaryngology

Background:

Auditory deprivation leads to neuroplasticity and structural brain changes.
Understanding these changes is vital for effective auditory rehabilitation.
Bilateral deafness (BD) involves significant hearing loss, impacting auditory pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate brain morphological alterations in patients with bilateral deafness (BD).
To examine the relationship between cortical thickness (CT), cortical volume (CV), duration of deafness (DoD), and hearing aid use (DoHA).

Main Methods:

Retrospective analysis of 3D T1-weighted MRI data from 47 BD patients and 73 normal hearing (NH) controls.
Surface-based morphometry (SBM) using FreeSurfer for CT and CV analysis.
General linear models and partial correlation analyses to assess associations with DoD and DoHA.

Main Results:

BD patients exhibited reduced CT in superior temporal and lateral occipital cortices compared to NH controls.
Significant CV reductions were observed in bilateral superior temporal gyri, superior parietal, and lateral occipital cortices in BD patients.
Longer duration of hearing aid use (DoHA) positively correlated with right superior temporal gyrus CT.

Conclusions:

Long-term bilateral deafness is linked to widespread cortical atrophy, affecting auditory and sensory integration regions.
Sustained hearing aid use may help preserve cortical structure in individuals with hearing loss.
Timely auditory rehabilitation could potentially slow neurodegeneration and mitigate cognitive risks associated with hearing loss.