The Evolution of the Auditory System: A Tutorial

5 1092-5171/05/3201-0005 ABSTRACT: A respectable body of work exists on the evolution of speech production, but little has been published on the evolution of the auditory system. Salient points in the evolution of the auditory system are presented here based on a review of the literature in paleontology, embryology, and comparative studies of extant organisms. Structural changes in the vertebrate ear are the central issue. Research methods and interpretive caveats are examined, followed by a discussion of evolution in relation to audition and the emergence of the auditory system. Findings from the fossil record, pertinent to aural structures, are noted, with comparative investigations of extant organisms in the evolution of the inner ear and central auditory structures. Discussion focuses on changes in structure and their benefits for evolutionary selection, with an overview of theories associated with these changes. In conclusion, the implications of ongoing evolution of the auditory system in higher primates are considered.