This special issue of Neuroscience, "From Cochlea to Cortex: Recent Advances in Auditory Neuroscience," was organized as a tribute to the pioneering contributions to the field by Kirsten Kjelsberg Osen, Professor Emeritus, The University of Oslo. In this introduction, we summarize her professional career, highlighting her numerous scientific achievements, and provide references to all of her published papers. In addition, we briefly summarize the contents of the 35 papers that make up the issue. © 2008 IBRO.