Notes

Studies on the Human Ear was first presented at Habitat Institute in Belmont, Massachusetts in October 1993, as part of a series of five programs presented by different artists under the overall title Nature and Inquiry. An abridged text was spoken aloud by the composer, and was accompanied by visual materials (a variety of images and three-dimensional model) which were used to reinforce the information presented in the text.

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDIES
THE FIRST STUDY (General Description)
Introduction
General Definition	2
The Position of the Ears	2
General Description of the Parts of the Ear	3
General Functions	3
The Threshold of Hearing	4
The Duration of Sound in the Ears	6
The Involuntary Protection of the Ear	7
Sounds Created Within the Human Body	7
Extending the Limits of Human Hearing	8
Final Remarks	8
THE SECOND STUDY (The Outer Ear)
Introduction
The Outer Ear	10
The External Ear	11
The Auditory Canal	12
The Amplification of Sound in the Outer Ear	12
Resonance	12
The Natural Tuning of the Ears	13
Binaural Hearing	14
Binaural Location and Directionality	14
Final Remarks	16
THE THIRD STUDY (The Middle Ear)
Introduction
The Middle Ear	19
The Eardrum	20
The Ossicular Chain	21
The Oval Window	22
The Round Window	22
The Transfer of Sound Across the Middle Ear	22
The Eustachian Tube	23
The Middle Ear Cavity	23
The Equalization of Air Pressure in the Middle Ear Cavity	23
The Amplification of Sound in the Middle Ear	24
The Attenuation of Sound in the Middle Ear	25
The Middle Ear Muscles	25
Musical Tones Created in the Ear	26
Final Remarks	27
THE FOURTH STUDY (The Inner Ear)
Introduction
The Inner Ear	29
The Vestibule	29
The Cochlea	30
The Oval Window	31
The Round Window	31
The Path of Sound in the Inner Ear	31
The Cochlear Canals	32
The Cochlear Membranes	32
The Organ of Corti	33
The Traveling Wave	33
The Acoustic Analyzer	35
Hair Cells	36
The Cilia	37
The Body of the Hair Cell	38
The Base of the Hair Cell	39
The Inner Hair Cells	39
The Outer Hair Cells	40
Summary of the Hair Cells	41
The Cochlear Neurons	42
The Acoustic Nerve	43
The Cochlear Nucleus	43
The Semicircular Canals	44
The Otolith Organs	45
Final Remarks	45
THE FIFTH STUDY (General Interests and Concerns)
Introduction
The Evolution of the Ear	48
Hearing in Other Animals	49
Hearing Problems Caused by Birth Defects, Injury and Disease	51
Hearing Loss	52
Final Remarks	53

STUDIES ON THE HUMAN EAR is available for order through
Spectrum Music (781-862-0088).