How do we make sense of the sounds around us?

How do we make sense of the sounds around us?

Up next

Could virtual reality speed up learning?

Does swinging a lightsaber help us learn? New research from Florida Atlantic University and Brown University found that movement dramatically helps with certain kinds of complex learning. The research was published in the journal Science Advances. Interested in more science invol ...  Show more

Is your favorite crime show rooted in fake science?

If you’ve ever seen a crime show, you probably know how the plot unfolds: A victim is found, an investigation ensues and police conduct a high-stakes search for the culprit. Detectives and crime lab techs collect hair, examine bullet casings and photograph bloodstains. But just h ...  Show more

Recommended Episodes

From silence to cacophony, here's how your brain makes sense of the world
NPR's Book of the Day

It can be hard enough to answer the question, "what kind of music do you like?" But how about "why do you like it?" That's one of the many questions about the human brain and sound that neuroscientist Nina Kraus set out to answer in her book Of Sound Mind. In this interview with ...  Show more

How our brain makes sense of a noisy world, with Nina Kraus, PhD
Speaking of Psychology

Our life experiences shape the way that our brain processes sound, and sound is deeply intertwined with everything from our ability to read to our cognitive health as we age. Dr. Nina Kraus, of Northwestern University, talks about why we undervalue our sense of hearing; why music ...  Show more

How We Hear
How We're Wired

How do we hear? What parts of our brain respond to sound? And how can we use vibrations to expand the way we enjoy music? In this episode of How We’re Wired, join evolutionary anthropologist Dr Anna Machin on a sensory journey exploring the world of sound, and how we hear it. We’ ...  Show more