Hearing is a function of the brain that is heavily involved with language. When sound information is processed in the language centers of the brain, it allows the person to comprehend what is heard. Hearing is also connected to music through the identification of sounds and tones. The parts of the brain involved in the function of hearing are in close proximity, located near the ears.
Ears
The ears are the input source for hearing. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) states that the ear is made up of three parts: the outer ear, middle ear and inner ear. Each part of the ear plays a different role in collecting sound and passing the information on to the brain. The outer ear, also known as the pinna, collects sound vibrations. The second part of the ear, the middle ear, contains small bones called the ossicles; the ossicles convert the sound vibrations into mechanical vibrations. The inner ear contains the Organ of Corti, a sensory receptor that is inside the cochlea; the Organ of Corti contains hair cells, which are the nerve receptors that used for hearing.
Acoustic Nerve
Once the sound information has reached the cochlear, it is passed on to the acoustic nerve, which acts as a relay to the rest of the brain. Also known as the eighth cranial nerve, the acoustic nerve divided into two pathways: one that travels to the corresponding hemisphere, and another that crosses over to the opposite hemisphere. This allows each hemisphere to receive information from both ears.
Temporal Lobe
The hearing processing center of the brain is the temporal lobe, which is located near the ears. The Traumatic Brain Injury Survival Guide states that each temporal lobe serves different functions in hearing. The temporal lobe in the left hemisphere is the language part of the brain, and is responsible for hearing comprehension and understanding what someone is saying. The temporal lobe in the right hemisphere is also involved in hearing processing; the right hemisphere is the music side of the brain, so it is involved in musical information and the identification of different sounds. The temporal lobe is also the location of the auditory cortex, which is responsible for recognizing patterns of sound, auditory discrimination, and timing aspects of hearing, according to the ASHA.
