The Springer Handbook of Auditory Research presents a series of comprehen- sive and synthetic reviews of the fundamental topics in modern auditory research. The volumes are aimed at all individuals with interests in hear- ing research including advanced graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and clinical investigators. The volumes are intended to introduce new investi- gators to important aspects of hearing science and to help established investi- gators to understand better the fundamental theories and data in fields of hearing that they may not normally follow closely. Each volume is intended to present a particular topic comprehensively, and each chapter will serve as a synthetic overview and guide to the lite- rature. As such, the chapters present neither exhaustive data reviews nor original research that has not yet appeared in peer-reviewed journals. The volumes focus on topics that have developed a solid data and conceptual foundation rather than on those for which a literature is only beginning to develop. New research areas will be covered on a timely basis in the series as they begin to mature.