So what hes saying is that our ear does a physical Fourier transform on the auditory signals its receiving.......cool!

With so many delicate parts, I'm always amazed when people shoot guns, attend rock concerts etc without hearing protection. I may have looked dumb wearing earplugs back in my dance club days, but I'll be the one without a hearing aid when I'm 80.

>> ^charliem:

So what hes saying is that our ear does a physical Fourier transform on the auditory signals its receiving.......cool!

Well, yes! The tonotopic mapping of the cochlea is kindof like that. When you start considering all of the other signal processing 'tricks' the auditory system uses (frequency dependent filtering, neural integration on spacial and temporal scales, otoacoustic emissions, etc) it gets way cooler! I just wish I could find an animation for those.

Wonderful. I wish it had continued on to primary auditory cortex.

Everyone should learn the fundamentals of sensation and perception -- truly fucking incredible.

>> ^grinter:

>> ^charliem:
So what hes saying is that our ear does a physical Fourier transform on the auditory signals its receiving.......cool!

Well, yes! The tonotopic mapping of the cochlea is kindof like that. When you start considering all of the other signal processing 'tricks' the auditory system uses (frequency dependent filtering, neural integration on spacial and temporal scales, otoacoustic emissions, etc) it gets way cooler! I just wish I could find an animation for those.


not sure about animation, but vihart's video goes into more detail on this

http://videosift.com/video/Vi-Hart-What-is-up-with-Noises

it makes for a good follow-up

*nochannel *Science *Animation *Anatomy
Sorry this does not fall into the category of teachers and the classroom of education. Cheers!

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Fascinating look at the inner-workings of the ear. I had no idea.

*quality

Boosting this quality contribution up in the Hot Listing - declared quality by lucky760.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made