Differences and similarities of peripheral auditory systems

Abstract

The properties of the ears of the wide range of species processing auditory signals can vary greatly depending on both important environmental sounds, and the sounds generated by individual members of the species (which are shaped by the sound processing and sound generation systems). Unfortunately, most anatomical and physiological research is conducted on a small subset of mammals and there are many pressures on auditory researchers to limit their research to species that are easy to work with in laboratories which are motivated to explain normal and impaired hearing in humans. Psychoacoustics has played a major role in our understanding of auditory processing in humans, but is difficult and time consuming in nonhuman species. Much of the investigation in nonhuman species is invasive and not appropriate for use with humans. Otoacoustic Emissions (sounds generated by the inner ear and measured in the outer or middle ears) can be used in most species, but we are still investigating the extent to which OAE obtained from different species reflect similar underlying processes. The combination of OAE measurement and computer modelling of the data has made us aware of the importance of evaluation of cross-species and individual differences in auditory processing.