in the cochlea, specialized cells called hair cells convert the vibrations into electrical signals. these signals are then sent through the auditory nerve to the brainstem, where they are further processed and sent to the auditory cortex in the brain. in the auditory cortex, the signals are interpreted as sound. the brain can identify the pitch, volume, and timbre of the sound, as well as locate the source of the sound and identify specific sounds within a mixture of sounds (such as a person speaking in a noisy room).
