Final answer:
Activating auditory neurons via artificial means is not as effective as hearing noise due to the absence of actual acoustic stimulus and the steps of sound processing in natural hearing, thereby only mimicking the sensation but not the full experience.
Step-by-step explanation:
The whether activating auditory neurons is just as effective as hearing noise would be false. This is because simply activating neurons mimics the sensation of hearing, but doesn't replicate the complete experience and stimuli associated with actual sounds in the environment. In an experiment, using devices such as electrodes or optically activated devices to stimulate auditory neurons can trigger similar neural responses as when actual sound waves are perceived. However, the complexity of hearing involves not just the activation of auditory neurons, but also the entire process in which sound waves are converted into electrical signals, which then travel along the auditory nerve to be processed and interpreted by the brain.
When hair cells in the cochlea are moved by fluid waves triggered by sound, they bend and release neurotransmitters that generate nerve impulses. These impulses are then conveyed via the auditory nerve to the brain for recognition and localization of sound. The experiment with the optically activated device in neurons probably used a similar mechanism, as the flashing light prompted the cells to produce different responses, essentially bypassing the mechanical steps but achieving a comparable neural activation outcome.
Nevertheless, it's crucial to note that actual hearing involves the sensation and perception that includes the physics of sound, the ears' mechanical processing, neural pathways, and finally, brain processing. Whereas in an experiment, the direct stimulation of neurons doesn't entail the external stimulus and modulation present in natural hearing, and doesn't engage the outer hair cells that contribute to sharpening sound frequency perception.