Auditory Nerve: Function, Location & Role in Hearing & Balance

Auditory nerve (also called the vestibulocochlear nerve or 8th cranial nerve) connects the inner ear to the brainstem and is responsible for hearing and balance.

The auditory portion carries signals related to hearing, specifically those related to pitch discrimination and sound localization, while the vestibular portion carries signals from the vestibular system, which is responsible for balance and spatial orientation.