Neurophysiological mechanisms behind perceptions of sound

How does the brain enable us to experience sound? Is it the same mechanism that enables us to see? 

The processes in the brain that result in visual awareness begin a mere 200 milliseconds after an image is shown. It is not certain whether instantaneous processes of this kind are needed to perceive sounds, although Stefan Wiens’ research team’s preliminary findings suggest that this is so. The team now wants to build on their results to establish cause and effect.

The aim of the forthcoming research is to locate the areas of the brain whose activity is involved in rendering a sound audible, and then attempt to disrupt that activity to see whether the sound then become inaudible. This is the only way of reliably demonstrating a causal link.

The research will contribute to the ongoing theoretical debate on the causal role played by early brain activity in the creation of awareness.