The Sense of Hearing is a highly accessible introduction to auditory perception, addressing the fundamental aspects of hearing. This fourth edition has been revised to include up-to-date research and references. In particular, Chapter 7 on Pitch and Periodicity Coding and Chapter 13 on Hearing Loss include new material to reflect the fast pace of research in these areas.
The book introduces the nature of sound and the spectrum, and the anatomy and physiology of the auditory system, before discussing basic auditory processes such as frequency selectivity, loudness and pitch perception, temporal resolution, and sound localization. Subsequent chapters show how complex processes such as perceptual organization, speech perception, and music perception are dependent on the initial analysis that occurs when sounds enter the ear. The book concludes with a description of the physiological bases and perceptual consequences of hearing loss, as well as the latest diagnostic techniques and management options that are available.
Featuring student-friendly resources, including an overview of research techniques, an extensive glossary of technical terms, and over 150 original illustrations, The Sense of Hearing offers a clear introduction and an essential resource for students in the fields of audiology and sound perception.
Biography
Christopher J. Plack is Ellis Llwyd Jones Professor of Audiology at the University of Manchester, UK, and Professor of Auditory Neuroscience at Lancaster University, UK. He has published over 140 peer-reviewed journal articles, 15 book chapters, and two edited volumes. In 2003, he was elected a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America.
'I am delighted to recommend the fourth edition of The Sense of Hearing. The book is fully up to date and provides a very clear and accurate introduction to auditory perception and its neural basis, including disorders of hearing. The book is written in a highly accessible way and will be suitable for undergraduate and masters level courses in psychology, audiology, music, audio engineering, and audio design.'
Brian C.J. Moore, Cambridge University, UK
'Every course on auditory psychophysics needs a book that summarizes the history of the field and highlights new and exciting findings in existing literature in a manner that can be digested by students. Chris Plack’s new book offers the perfect combination of experimental outcomes and models with outstanding diagrams.'
Ruth Litovsky, University of Wisconsin, USA
'This book is a must-have for students of auditory perception, and hearing sciences more generally. Even the more complicated topics are presented in an approachable and systematic way that makes it suitable both for classroom teaching and for self-study. I would highly recommend it for courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level.'
Andrew Oxenham, University of Minnesota, USA
'Written in an approachable and comfortable style, The Sense of Hearing is fully recommended to any student interested in hearing science. It is an engaging introduction to all the key topics, from the classic experiments that underpin current knowledge to the potential research questions of the future.'
Michael Akeroyd, University of Nottingham, UK
