The science of listening and hearing

snip from article illus. by Merijn Hos

Why Listening Is So Much More Than Hearing – NYTimes.com – great article on the importance of hearing, why listening matters, and the role of attention, especially in the digital world.  Briefly explains a bit of the neuroscience behind both.

Hearing, in short, is easy. You and every other vertebrate that hasn’t suffered some genetic, developmental or environmental accident have been doing it for hundreds of millions of years. It’s your life line, your alarm system, your way to escape danger and pass on your genes. But listening, really listening, is hard when potential distractions are leaping into your ears every fifty-thousandth of a second — and pathways in your brain are just waiting to interrupt your focus to warn you of any potential dangers.

Listening is a skill that we’re in danger of losing in a world of digital distraction and information overload.