What is the cochlea primarily responsible for in the hearing process?

The cochlea is primarily responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals that can be processed by the brain, making it the main receptor organ for hearing. It is a spiral-shaped, fluid-filled structure in the inner ear where sound waves are transformed into neural signals.

When sound waves travel through the outer ear and the middle ear, they reach the cochlea, which contains specialized hair cells that respond to different frequencies of sound. The movement of these hair cells generates electrical impulses that travel along the auditory nerve to the brain, allowing us to perceive sound. This intricate process highlights the cochlea's essential role in hearing as the main receptor organ.

In contrast, some of the other options touch on related processes but do not capture the cochlea's primary function in hearing. For instance, funneling sound waves relates to the outer ear's role, while converting sound energy into mechanical energy pertains to the function of the middle ear. Additionally, receiving and processing auditory signals involves more extensive brain processing rather than the specific actions of the cochlea itself.