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Technology

Electronic cochlea adjusts to noise levels like a human ear

A tiny microphone designed to replicate the way sound is processed in the inner ear could be used in hearing aids

By Alex Wilkins

4 May 2023

A sensor designed to work like the human cochlea

TU Ilmenau/Michael Reichel

A tiny sensor that mimics how the cochlea in the human ear works could be used for hearing aids or microphones that can pick out sounds in noisy environments.

The cochlea can adjust how sensitive it is to certain frequencies depending on the volume of the sounds it picks up. If you are in a busy restaurant, for example, it will alter how its hair cells react to the frequency of sound from a person sitting across from you so you can …

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