New research shows that newborns can detect complex sound patterns that follow non-adjacent, language-like rules, suggesting that the ability to process such sequences is innate. Using near-infrared spectroscopy, researchers observed newborn brain responses to sequences of tones, finding that infants could distinguish between correct and incorrect patterns. The study found that this early ability activates language-related networks, particularly in the left hemisphere, highlighting a foundation for future language skills.

New research demonstrates that stimulating the vagus nerve enhances perceptual learning, allowing animals to better distinguish subtle sensory differences over time. In the study, mice trained to differentiate tones improved more when their vagus nerve was stimulated, surpassing performance plateaus seen in unstimulated mice. This stimulation activated regions in the brain associated with attention, memory, and neuroplasticity, suggesting it might enhance adaptability to new experiences.

A recent study reveals that hearing plays a vital role in coordinating speech movements. Researchers found that when individuals briefly couldn't hear their own speech, their ability to control their jaw and tongue movements declined.

Researchers have discovered that geckos use their saccule, a part of the inner ear associated with balance, to detect low-frequency vibrations. This sensory pathway complements their regular hearing and may be present in other reptiles.

A new study explores why magic tricks based solely on sound are rare, despite the many auditory illusions we encounter in everyday life. Researchers suggest that the difficulty lies in how the brain processes visual versus auditory information, with vision being more trusted.