Every day the human brain encounters a cacophony of sounds, often all simultaneously competing for its attention.

In the cafeteria, at the mall, in the street, at the playground, even at home, the noises are everywhere. People talk. Music plays. Babies cry. Cars drive by with their windows open and radios on. Fire engine sirens scream. Dogs bark. Lawn mowers roar. The list is endless.

With all of this going on, how does the brain sort out what is important, and what it needs to hear?

That’s what Mounya Elhilali is trying to find out.

Excerpted from NSF Discoveries. Read more.