What is auditory stimuli?

Auditory stimuli are things and events that elicit auditory sensations. Auditory stimuli occur when sounds cause pressure changes in elastic mediums, such as air. These pressure changes are the result of molecules in the elastic medium becoming more or less dense from sound vibrations.

Auditory stimuli trigger auditory sensations within the ear. Sounds travel to the ear as waves, which are measured in hertz. Most humans can detect sounds within the range of 20 to 20,000 Hertz. Human ears convert sounds into neural impulses through the process of transduction. Disruptions to the transduction process can result in hearing loss or even deafness.