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Questions and Answers
What is the range of frequencies that the human ear can detect?
What is the range of frequencies that the human ear can detect?
What is the function of the pinna in the outer ear?
What is the function of the pinna in the outer ear?
What is the purpose of the three bones in the middle ear?
What is the purpose of the three bones in the middle ear?
What is the name of the window that vibrates due to the stirrup in the inner ear?
What is the name of the window that vibrates due to the stirrup in the inner ear?
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What is the function of the hair cells in the cochlea?
What is the function of the hair cells in the cochlea?
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What is the theory that states our perception of sound depends on where each component frequency produces vibrations along the basilar membrane?
What is the theory that states our perception of sound depends on where each component frequency produces vibrations along the basilar membrane?
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According to the current perspective, how do auditory cells time their responses?
According to the current perspective, how do auditory cells time their responses?
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What is the frequency range in which most of our hearing occurs?
What is the frequency range in which most of our hearing occurs?
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What is amusia characterized by?
What is amusia characterized by?
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What is the function of the 'what' pathway in audition?
What is the function of the 'what' pathway in audition?
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What can cause nerve deafness?
What can cause nerve deafness?
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What is absolute pitch?
What is absolute pitch?
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What is a characteristic of cells in the auditory cortex?
What is a characteristic of cells in the auditory cortex?
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What is the function of the tonotopic map in the auditory cortex?
What is the function of the tonotopic map in the auditory cortex?
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What is conductive deafness caused by?
What is conductive deafness caused by?
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What is one of the cues used for sound localization?
What is one of the cues used for sound localization?
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Study Notes
Audition
- Physically, sound waves are compressions of air, water, etc.
- Amplitude of a wave refers to its intensity, but loudness differs from amplitude.
- Frequency refers to the number of compressions per second (in hertz, Hz).
- Human ear can detect sounds within the range of 15-20,000 Hz.
- Higher the frequency, the higher the pitch.
Structures of the Ear
- Outer ear: consists of the pinna, which helps to locate the source of a sound.
- Middle ear: contains the tympanic membrane (eardrum), which vibrates the sound to three bones (hammer, anvil, and stirrup).
- Inner ear: contains the oval window and the cochlea, with three channels with liquid: scala vestibule, scala media, and scala tympani.
Sound Perception
- Theories of sound perception: place theory, frequency theory, and current perspective (which combines elements of both).
- Place theory: our perception of sound depends on where each component frequency produces vibrations along the basilar membrane.
- Frequency theory: basilar membrane synchronizes with a sound, producing action potentials of the same frequency.
- Volley principle: attempts to account for the maximum theoretical limit for the neuronal firing of action potentials and the small time scales over which sound discrimination must occur.
Auditory Cortex
- Auditory information is processed on the primary auditory cortex A1 (part of the superior temporal cortex).
- Audition has a "what" pathway (sensitive to patterns of sounds) and a "how" pathway (sensitive to sound location).
- Development of the auditory system requires experience.
- Damage on the primary auditory cortex does not lead to deafness, but can lead to impairments in processing auditory information.
- Cells in the auditory cortex are more responsive to one kind of preferred sound.
Hearing Impairments
- Two types of hearing impairments: conductive deafness (middle-ear deafness) and nerve deafness.
- Conductive deafness: caused by e.g. tumors or diseases.
- Nerve deafness: caused by damage in the cochlea, hair cells, or auditory nerve.
- Nerve deafness can be inherited or caused by prenatal conditions (e.g. lack of oxygen during birth, exposure to certain drugs or diseases).
Sound Localization
- With two ears, we can localize the source of a sound using three cues:
- Difference in intensity between the ears.
- Difference in time of arrival.
- Phase difference (used with low frequencies), with loudness differences used with high frequencies.
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Description
This quiz covers the basics of sound waves, amplitude, frequency, and loudness, as well as the structures of the human ear. Understand how our ears work and how we perceive sound.