Auditory transduction refers to the process of the inner ear converting sound waves into action potentials to fire to the brain. Sound waves converted into fluid pressure in the ear, and this pressure is sensed by mechanosensory hair cells with stereociliae in the cochlea, which fire action potentials to the brain in response to fluid pressure.
The background of this painting, sea water, depicts sound waves. Hair cells with stereociliae are represented by the anemone-like figures, and neurons are represented by the sea plants.