Now that you understand the characteristics of the sound wave, we're ready to take another look at the auditory system.

How does the ear convert the physical energy of the sound wave into neural impulses that the brain can interpret? Let's find out.

When a sound wave reaches our head, the outer ear funnels the sound to our eardrum. The alternating bands or regions of high and low pressure cause the eardrum to vibrate back and forth at the same rate as the object that produced the sound wave.