In 30 Seconds
How does sound travel from ear to brain? These anatomical illustrations trace the auditory pathway: waves through the outer and middle ear, transduction in the cochlea, then onward to the cortex. Several compositions are archived side by side; none is assumed to be the final draft.
The Story Behind the Image
Sound waves enter the outer ear, cross the middle ear, are converted into nerve signals in the cochlea, and travel up the auditory pathway to the cerebral cortex — the journey of sound from ear to brain becomes a visible route, station by station, in the drawing. The figure-scene version places the journey in a listening situation; the pure anatomical version spreads it out as a route map. The two versions annotate each other.
Scope note Topically related to the team's voice and acoustics research.