Questions and Answers
What is the term for the sense or act of hearing?
What does frequency refer to?
The number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time.
What does pitch depend on?
Frequency.
What chamber is located between the eardrum and cochlea?
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What is the cochlea?
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What part of the ear contains the cochlea?
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According to place theory, high frequencies produce large vibrations where?
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The problem with place theory is that it can't explain ______ sounds.
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What does frequency theory state?
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What is the volley principle?
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Why are two ears better than one for hearing?
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What is conduction hearing loss?
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What is sensorineural hearing loss?
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What is a cochlear implant?
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What determines the loudness of a sound?
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What do long waves with low frequency correspond to?
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What do short waves with high frequency represent?
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What unit measures sound?
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What is the absolute threshold for hearing?
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What part of the ear channels sound waves to the eardrum?
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What is the eardrum?
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Where does the stirrup attach?
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What does the basilar membrane do?
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What does the auditory nerve do?
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What accounts for most hearing loss?
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What allows the brain to interpret loudness?
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What can hair cells respond to if they lose sensitivity to soft sounds?
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What type of sound do hard of hearing people prefer?
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Study Notes
Auditory System Components
- Audition: The act of hearing, essential for communication and interaction with the environment.
- Outer Ear: Channels sound waves through the canal to the eardrum.
- Eardrum: A membrane that vibrates in response to sound waves, initiating the hearing process.
- Middle Ear: Contains three tiny bones (hammer, anvil, stirrup) that amplify vibrations from the eardrum to the cochlea.
- Cochlea: A spiral, fluid-filled structure in the inner ear that converts sound waves into neural signals.
- Inner Ear: Contains the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs, crucial for hearing and balance.
Sound Characteristics
- Frequency: The number of complete sound wave cycles that pass a point in a given time, influencing pitch.
- Pitch: The perceived highness or lowness of a tone, determined by frequency.
- Amplitude: Determines loudness; larger amplitudes correspond to louder sounds.
- Decibels: The unit of measurement for sound intensity; normal hearing threshold is 0 decibels.
Theories of Pitch Perception
- Place Theory: Assumes different pitches are perceived based on where vibrations occur along the cochlea's membrane.
- Frequency Theory: Proposes that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the sound frequency, enabling pitch perception.
- Volley Principle: Explains how groups of neural cells can fire in succession to handle frequencies above 1000 waves per second.
Hearing Loss Types
- Conduction Hearing Loss: Results from damage to the ear's mechanical system; can occur due to eardrum or middle ear issues.
- Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Caused by damage to the cochlea's hair cells or the auditory nerves, often referred to as nerve deafness.
Sound Processing and Perception
- Cochlear Implant: A device that converts sound into electrical signals, stimulating the auditory nerve directly.
- Hair Cells: Sensory receptors in the cochlea that trigger nerve impulses; their damage accounts for most hearing loss.
- Loud Sounds: Although hair cells may lose sensitivity to softer sounds, they can still respond to louder auditory stimuli.
Auditory Localization
- Sound Localization: Two ears provide better sound location abilities as they perceive sounds more intensely and sooner from the side they originate.
- Compressed Sounds: Hard of hearing individuals often prefer amplified softer sounds while minimizing loud tones.
Additional Key Points
- Basilar Membrane: Houses hair cells that generate impulses when stimulated by sound vibrations.
- Auditory Nerve: Conveys neural messages to the brain's auditory cortex via the thalamus, processing sound information.
- Oval Window: The entry point for vibrations from the stirrup to the cochlea, essential for sound transmission.
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Description
Test your understanding of key terms in Psychology Unit 4, Section 3. This set of flashcards covers essential definitions related to auditory perception and the anatomy of the ear. Perfect for quick revision before exams!