The Ear: Sound Reception

This lesson is part of the Fundamentals of Sound & Music module.

Objectives

• Students will be familiar with how sound is perceived by humans
• Student will be familiar with the general structures of the ear and their function: ear canal, ear drum, ossicles, cochlea
• Student will understand the concept of transduction
• Optional: Student will be familiar with how cochlear implants work and their pros/cons with regard to music listening

Resources

Readings

• "How do we hear?" (NIDCD).
• "Cochlear Implants." (NIDCD).
• J. Wolfe. "Research Related to Cochlear Implants." (Music Acoustics, UNSW).

Listening & Videos

• "Journey of Sound to the Brain" (NIDCD).
• J. Pletsch. "Auditory Transduction"
• Cochlear Implant Simulation

Class Activities

• Discussion and definition of physical and cognitive processes of sound perception
• Show video & discuss process of sound transduction
• Cochlear implant demonstration

Assignments

Files

• Ear diagram worksheet