J.L. van Hemmen, Physics Department, Technische Universität München

Internally Coupled Ears (ICE): the cool part of sound localization

Internally coupled ears, or for short ICE, provide a powerful means of enhancing (in a direction-dependent fashion) the input difference between left and right ears due to an external sound source. ICE occurs in many animal groups, such as frogs, lizards, birds, and crocodilians; i.e., in more than half of the terrestrial vertebrates. It will be shown that two factors play a key role. First, the physical geometry of the air-filled cavity connecting the two eardrums. Second, the fundamental frequency and hence the elastic properties of the eardrums connecting the outside auditory world with the air-filled interior connection. Treated together, these two factors allow physical and, hence, mechanistic insight into how ICE determines the ensuing neuronal processing in audition; in particular, in sound localization.

Organized by

Benjamin Lindner