Hearing is a complex process that changes sound waves into electrical signals that travel to the brain through the auditory nerve. Sound waves enter the ear canal, reach the eardrum, and cause vibrations. These vibrations travel to the cochlea, where tiny hair cells turn them into electrical signals. The auditory nerve carries these signals to the brainstem, where they are analyzed before being sent to the auditory cortex for interpretation. In summary, hearing depends on the precise conversion of sound waves to electrical signals that the brain can interpret.