Perspective abstract
Focus on Hearing
- Focus issue:
- Junember 2009 Volume 12, No 6
Nature Neuroscience 12, 692 - 697 (2009)
Published online: 26 May 2009 | doi:10.1038/nn.2325
On hearing with more than one ear: lessons from evolution
Jan W H Schnupp1,2 & Catherine E Carr3
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.
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Robotics, Brain, and Cognitive Sciences Department, Italian Institute of Technology, Genova, Italy.
- Department of Biology and Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA.
Correspondence to: Jan W H Schnupp1,2 e-mail: jan.schnupp@dpag.ox.ac.uk
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