The Ear as an Electroacoustic Sensor

This lecture introduces the complexity of the human hearing system, focusing on the outer ear's role in capturing and transmitting sound waves. It explains the mechanisms of diffraction, resonance, and impedance matching in the ear canal, optimizing sound transmission. The lecture also covers the middle ear's function in transforming mechanical vibrations into electrical signals, involving hair cells and the basilar membrane. Additionally, it discusses the cochlea's electro-chemical transmission process and the propagation of sound waves through the ear. The presentation concludes with a simple model of the cochlea as a transmission line, highlighting its linear properties and response to different frequencies.