The Brain Listens

Our hearing brain is vast — it is more than just a device for processing sound. Nina Kraus explains how it affects our emotions, thoughts, and movements. Auditory neurons process information in a thousandth of a second, and hearing is the fastest of all senses. Kraus describes the healing power of music and the destructive power of noise. She tracks what happens to the brain when we speak a foreign language, suffer from speech disorders, perceive rhythm, listen to birds singing, or experience a concussion. Kraus shows that interaction with sound leaves an indelible mark on who we are. The sounds around us influence our brains and — for better or worse — help us build the sound world we live in.