Ear

The ear is a complex part of an even more complex sensory system. The ear is anatomically
divided into three portions.
External ear
Middle ear
Internal ear
Function of Ear
Hearing and maintaining balance
Parts of External ear are:
Auricle (Pinna)
External auditory canal
Tympanic membrane (ear drum)
Parts of middle ear are:
Auditory ossicles
Oval window
Eustachian tube
Parts of inner ear
Semicircular canals
Vestibule
Cochlea
Auditory Perception
Auditory perception could be defined as the ability to receive and interpret information that
reached the ears 
Auditory Process
Auditory stimuli consist of sound waves moving in the air. The human auditory mechanism
responds to these stimuli and translates the sound waves into a neural message. You already
know that the sound waves are funneled into the ear, causing the tympanic membrane to vibrate.
This vibration transfers from the ear bones. Cochlea and vibration of hair cells along the basilar
membrane generate the neural message, which is sent along the auditory nerve into the cerebral
cortex and produces th e sense of hearing.
Both ears project auditory sensation to both hemispheres of the brain, the primary auditory
cortex (temporal lobe) which is actually extends into the parietal lobe. Auditory input to the brain
is sent primarily to this auditory cortex, although other nearby zones and several secondary areas
are also affected.
Once the sound waves reach the inner ear, they are converted into electrical impulses. The
auditory nerve sends these impulses to the brain. The brain then translates these electrical
impulses as sound.

The sensitivity of hearing sense is very important because it defines our auditory world. A pure
tune has regular frequency, a smooth pattern of up-and-down cycles per unit of time. Generally,
humans are sensitive to patterns as low as 20 cycles per second and as high as 20,000 cycles per
second, although the upper limit declines with age.
Most of the sound patterns are of great complexity, combining dozens of different frequencies
that vary widely in intensity. Our hearing is unbelievably complex, as we can easily discriminate
between highly similar sounds even from very early childhood.
Our auditory system coordinates with our knowledge of language i.e. why we recognize and
comprehend so rapidly.
The neural code in the central auditory system is complex. Each cell has
a characteristic frequency (CF). When sounds are soft then neural activity is
confined and as sounds get louder neurons are stimulated and the area of activity will
increase.
https://nba.uth.tmc.edu/neuroscience/m/s2/chapter12.html
https://www.cmu.edu/dietrich/psychology/holtlab/PDF/lori.%20MY%20Papers/
LottoHolt_WIRES.pdf
Psychological Dimension of Sound

The amplitude and frequency of sound waves determine the sounds we hear. These physical

characteristics of the waves produce the psychological dimensions of sound known as:

 Loudness

 Pitch

 Timber

Loudness is determined by the amplitude of the sound wave.

Pitch depends on the frequency of sound waves.

Timber is the quality of sound.