1. Hair cells: These are the sensory receptors in the inner ear that convert sound vibrations into electrical signals. When sound waves travel through the cochlea, they cause the hair cells to bend, which opens ion channels and generates an electrical signal.
2. Auditory nerve (cochlear nerve): This nerve carries the action potentials from the hair cells to the brain. The auditory nerve fibers synapse with the hair cells, and the action potentials travel along the nerve to the brainstem.
3. Brainstem: The brainstem is the part of the brain that receives the auditory signals from the auditory nerve. It processes these signals and relays them to higher brain centers.
4. Thalamus: The thalamus is a relay station in the brain that receives signals from the brainstem and other sensory areas. It filters and relays the auditory signals to the auditory cortex.
5. Auditory cortex: This is the part of the brain that is responsible for processing and interpreting sound information. It receives the auditory signals from the thalamus and is involved in tasks such as speech comprehension, music perception, and sound localization.
In summary, the following structures carry action potentials caused by sound transduction:
* Hair cells: convert sound vibrations into electrical signals.
* Auditory nerve: carries the action potentials from the hair cells to the brain.
* Brainstem: processes the auditory signals and relays them to the thalamus.
* Thalamus: filters and relays the auditory signals to the auditory cortex.
* Auditory cortex: processes and interprets sound information.
