Neurophysiology and Neuroimage of Auditory and Vestibular System

Components of the Ears

• The cochlea is a major component of the ears, responsible for sound processing and hearing.

Sound Processing and Hearing

• The process of translation of vertical movement of the basilar membrane into a hearing force is known as mechanotransduction.
• Mechanotransduction is the conversion of mechanical energy into electrical energy, which is then transmitted to the brain.

Hair Cell Function

• When the hair bundle of a hair cell is displaced, it triggers a change in the electrical properties of the hair cell.
• This change in electrical properties generates a signal that is transmitted to the auditory nerve.

Hair Cell Potential

• The role of the hair cell potential is to transmit sound information to the auditory nerve.
• The hair cell potential is a critical step in the process of sound perception.

Auditory and Vestibular Pathway

• The brain regions related to the auditory and vestibular pathway include the cochlear nucleus, superior olivary complex, and inferior colliculus.
• These brain regions work together to process and integrate auditory and vestibular information.