Auditory System The Auditory System o is an exteroceptive special somatic afferent (SSA) system.

. o detects sound frequencies from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. o ordinary conversation ranges between 300 and 3000 Hz. o functions over an intensity range of 120 decibels (dB) o it can discriminate changes in intensity between 1 dB and 2 dB. o is characterized by tonotopic (pitch) localization at all levels of the neuraxis. o Presbyacusis - there is a loss of high-frequency tones with advanced age. Auditory Pathway o Hair cells of the organ of Corti are innervated by peripheral processes of bipolar cells of the spiral ganglion. consists of two types Inner hair cells o synapse with numerous afferent fibers, each of which makes contact with only one hair cell o the majority of fibers in the cochlear nerve come from the inner hair cells. Outer hair cells o synapse with afferent fibers that contact numerous other outer hair cells o outnumber the inner hair cells three to one. o Bipolar cells of the spiral (cochlear) ganglion project peripherally to hair cells of the organ of Corti. project centrally as the cochlear nerve to the dorsal and ventral cochlear nuclei of the medullopontine junction o Cochlear nerve (CN VIII) extends from the spiral ganglion to the cerebellopontine angle, where it enters the brainstem. o Cochlear nuclei are the only auditory nuclei that do not receive binaural input Damage results in unilateral deafness. o Dorsal cochlear nucleus underlies the acoustic tubercle of the floor of the fourth ventricle receives input from the cochlear nerve (CN VIII). projects contralaterally to the lateral lemniscus. o Ventral cochlear nucleus receives input from the cochlear nerve (CN VIII). projects bilaterally to the superior olivary nuclei. projects contralaterally to the lateral lemniscus. gives rise to the trapezoid body (ventral acoustic striae). o Superior olivary nucleus is located in the pons at the level of the facial nucleus. receives input from ventral cochlear nuclei. projects bilaterally to the lateral lemniscus. plays a role in sound localization and binaural processing.

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gives rise to the efferent olivocochlear bundle, a cochlear feedback pathway. Trapezoid body is located in the caudal pontine tegmentum at the level of the abducent nucleus is transversed by intra-axial abducent fibers of CN VI. contains decussating fibers from the ventral cochlear nucleus. Lateral lemniscus receives input from the contralateral cochlear nuclei. receives input from the superior olivary nuclei is connected to the contralateral lateral lemniscus via commissural fibers projects to the nucleus of the inferior colliculus. Nucleus of the inferior colliculus receives input from the lateral lemniscus. projects via the brachium of the inferior colliculus to the medial geniculate body projects to the superior colliculus to mediate audiovisual reflexes. Medial geniculate body receives input from the nucleus of the inferior colliculus. projects via the auditory radiation to the primary auditory cortex, the transverse gyri of Heschl (areas 41 and 42). projects to the amygdala. Auditory radiation extends from the medial geniculate body via the posterior limb of the internal capsule to the transverse gyri of Heschl. Transverse temporal gyri of Heschl contain the primary auditory cortex (areas 41 and 42) receive auditory input via the auditory radiation. project to the auditory association cortex (area 22). Efferent Cochlear (Olivocochlear) Bundle o is a crossed and uncrossed tract o arises from the superior olivary nucleus o projects to the hair cells of the organ of Corti. o suppresses auditory nerve activity when stimulated. o plays a role, through inhibition, in auditory sharpening.