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

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

Listening & Videos

• NIDCD: Journey of Sound to the Brain
• 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