Psychology Unit 4 Section 3 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the term for the sense or act of hearing?

Frequency

Audition (correct)

Cochlea

Pitch

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?

Middle ear. Signup and view all the answers

What is the cochlea?

A coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear. Signup and view all the answers

What part of the ear contains the cochlea?

Inner ear. Signup and view all the answers

According to place theory, high frequencies produce large vibrations where?

Near the beginning of the cochlea's membrane. Signup and view all the answers

The problem with place theory is that it can't explain ______ sounds.

low pitched. Signup and view all the answers

What does frequency theory state?

The rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone. Signup and view all the answers

What is the volley principle?

The principle that neural cells can alternate firing in rapid succession. Signup and view all the answers

Why are two ears better than one for hearing?

They provide more intense and sooner sound localization. Signup and view all the answers

What is conduction hearing loss?

Hearing loss caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves. Signup and view all the answers

What is sensorineural hearing loss?

Hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea's receptor cells or auditory nerves. Signup and view all the answers

What is a cochlear implant?

A device that converts sounds into electrical signals for the auditory nerve. Signup and view all the answers

What determines the loudness of a sound?

Amplitude. Signup and view all the answers

What do long waves with low frequency correspond to?

Low pitch. Signup and view all the answers

What do short waves with high frequency represent?

High pitch. Signup and view all the answers

What unit measures sound?

Decibels. Signup and view all the answers

What is the absolute threshold for hearing?

Zero decibels. Signup and view all the answers

What part of the ear channels sound waves to the eardrum?

Outer ear. Signup and view all the answers

What is the eardrum?

A tight membrane that vibrates with sound waves. Signup and view all the answers

Where does the stirrup attach?

Oval window. Signup and view all the answers

What does the basilar membrane do?

Has hair cells lining its surface that trigger nerve impulses. Signup and view all the answers

What does the auditory nerve do?

Sends neural messages to the brain. Signup and view all the answers

What accounts for most hearing loss?

Damage to hair cells. Signup and view all the answers

What allows the brain to interpret loudness?

Number of activated hair cells. Signup and view all the answers

What can hair cells respond to if they lose sensitivity to soft sounds?

Loud sounds. Signup and view all the answers

What type of sound do hard of hearing people prefer?

Compressed. Signup and view all the answers

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!