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On hearing with more than one ear: lessons from evolution

Nature Neuroscience volume 12, pages 692–697 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Although ears capable of detecting airborne sound have arisen repeatedly and independently in different species, most animals that are capable of hearing have a pair of ears. We review the advantages that arise from having two ears and discuss recent research on the similarities and differences in the binaural processing strategies adopted by birds and mammals. We also ask how these different adaptations for binaural and spatial hearing might inform and inspire the development of techniques for future auditory prosthetic devices.

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Figure 1: Evolution of vertebrate ears.
Figure 2: Coincidence detection.
Figure 3: ITD computations in birds and mammals.

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Acknowledgements

Supported by UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council grant BB/D009758/1, UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council grant EP/C010841/1, a European Union FP6 grant to J.W.H.S., and US National Institutes of Health grants DCD000436 to C.E.C. and P30 DC0466 to the University of Maryland Center for the Evolutionary Biology of Hearing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Jan W H Schnupp

  2. and Cognitive Sciences Department, Robotics, Brain, Italian Institute of Technology, Genova, Italy

    Jan W H Schnupp

  3. Department of Biology and Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA

    Catherine E Carr

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  2. Catherine E Carr
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Correspondence to Jan W H Schnupp.

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Schnupp, J., Carr, C. On hearing with more than one ear: lessons from evolution. Nat Neurosci 12, 692–697 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2325

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