Question

Hair cells in the cochlea connect with fibers from the auditory nerve to perform what action?

Option 1: they convert auditory stimuli into neural signals the brain can process.
Option 2: they carry neural signals about a sound wave’s frequency to the brain.
Option 3: they transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.
Option 4: they transfer sound vibrations from the eardrum to the auditory cortex.

Answer 1

Hair cells in the cochlea convert auditory stimuli into neural signals that the brain can process, and they are a fundamental part of the auditory nerve pathway for hearing.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hair cells in the cochlea are essential for the process of hearing, connecting with fibers from the auditory nerve to perform their critical action. These hair cells convert auditory stimuli into neural signals the brain can process. As sound waves create fluid waves in the cochlea, they make the basilar membrane vibrate, which in turn bends the hair cells' stereocilia attached to the tectorial membrane. This bending action leads to the generation of action potentials in the hair cells. Released excitatory neurotransmitters at synapses with sensory neurons conduct action potentials to the central nervous system. This pathway involves the cochlear branch of the vestibulocochlear cranial nerve, which sends information about hearing to the brain, enabling sound perception and auditory processing.