The Sound Spiral

Beurg, et al. Journal of Neuroscience 2008.

Ever wonder how your ears and brain work together to help you process the notes of a sonata or the pounding of a jackhammer? The cochlea, a spiral-shaped structure in the ear, transforms sound vibrations in the air into electrical signals the brain can use. Scientists mapped the location of a protein that is key to this hearing process in the auditory hair cells of the mouse cochlea (highlighted in green above).

About the Author

Michael W. Richardson

Michael W. Richardson is a writer and editor based in Brooklyn, New York, covering topics ranging from the brain and behavior to the environment.