Hearing
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What primarily determines the frequency response of an inner hair cell?

  • The shape of the cochlea
  • The firing rate of auditory nerve fibers
  • The location on the basilar membrane (correct)
  • The type of sound stimulus present

    • What is the primary mechanism by which frequency is encoded in the auditory system?

  • The number of inner hair cells activated
  • The amplitude of sound waves
  • The average firing rate of the entire auditory nerve population
  • The phase-locked responses of neurons (correct)

    • Which of the following statements about the tonotopic organization is accurate?

  • Tonotopic organization is only present in humans.
  • It is maintained throughout the auditory system. (correct)
  • Higher frequency auditory neurons have broader tuning curves.
  • All auditory neurons respond equally to frequency stimuli.

    • How does an increase in sound intensity affect the activity of hair cells?

    <p>A larger area of the basilar membrane will move, activating more hair cells.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs when the firing rate of a type 1 auditory neuron reaches its saturation level?

    <p>The firing rate plateaus, and the signal saturates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    At what frequency range does phase-locking typically occur in auditory neurons?

    <p>Up to 5 kHz</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is sound intensity represented in the auditory system?

    <p>As both a rate code and the number of active hair cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of the volley principle in auditory perception?

    <p>It allows a population of neurons to respond collectively at specific frequencies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of outer hair cells in the cochlea?

    <p>Amplify and sharpen the response of inner hair cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    At which part of the basilar membrane do high frequency vibrations cause maximum displacement?

    <p>At the base</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes inner hair cells from outer hair cells in their neural connections?

    <p>Inner hair cells are innervated by type 1 auditory neurons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the cochlear amplifier function in relation to the basilar membrane?

    <p>It enhances and sharpens movement of the basilar membrane</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of stereocilia on hair cells?

    <p>To open mechanically-gated ion channels</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes how frequency is represented in the auditory system?

    <p>By both a place code and a temporal code</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What connects the vestibular and tympanic canals in the cochlea?

    <p>Helicotrema</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect do the tip links on outer hair cells have when under tension?

    <p>They open ion channels and depolarize the cell</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of the organ of Corti located within the cochlea?

    <p>Transducing mechanical vibrations into neural signals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the basilar membrane respond to different frequencies of sound?

    <p>It exhibits varying degrees of stiffness, allowing it to resonate at different frequencies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do hair cells play in the process of sound transduction?

    <p>They transduce mechanical energy into electrical signals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During sound transmission, what do the ossicles in the middle ear primarily accomplish?

    <p>They amplify and transmit vibrations to the cochlea.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What component of the ear acts as a funnel to collect sound from the environment?

    <p>Pinna</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which part of the cochlea contains the fluid-filled chambers essential for hearing?

    <p>Vestibular canal and cochlear duct</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of the eustachian tube in the auditory system?

    <p>Equalizing pressure in the middle ear</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect of sound perception does the fundamental frequency primarily influence?

    <p>The pitch of the sound</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the normal range of human hearing in Hertz (Hz)?

    <p>20 Hz to 20 kHz</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Sound waves travel faster in air than in water.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What unit is used to measure sound intensity?

    <p>decibels</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The maximum and minimum sound pressure levels in a sound wave determine its __________.

    <p>amplitude</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the sound characteristics with their definitions:

    <p>Frequency = Number of cycles per second Amplitude = Difference between max and min sound pressure Hertz = Unit of frequency measurement Decibels = Unit of sound intensity measurement</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of fluid fills the tympanic canal?

    <p>Perilymph</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The round window serves to amplify sound vibrations within the cochlea.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of inner hair cells in the auditory system?

    <p>Auditory transduction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The ______ is a membrane-covered opening that provides a means for pressure wave relief in the cochlea.

    <p>round window</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following types of auditory cells with their primary functions:

    <p>Inner hair cells = Responsible for auditory transduction Outer hair cells = Amplify and sharpen sound response Stereocilia = Open mechanically-gated ion channels Auditory nerve = Conveys signals to the brain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the fundamental frequency in a complex waveform?

    <p>The lowest frequency component</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The tympanic membrane is responsible for amplifying sound vibrations.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where does maximum displacement occur for high frequency vibrations in the basilar membrane?

    <p>Base</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the ossicles in the middle ear?

    <p>Amplifying and transmitting vibrations from the tympanic membrane.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of auditory neurons innervate inner hair cells?

    <p>Type 1 auditory neurons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The _____ collects sounds from the environment and funnels them into the ear canal.

    <p>pinna</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Outer hair cells are primarily responsible for sending auditory signals to the central nervous system.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following components of the ear with their functions:

    <p>Pinna = Collects sound from the environment Eustachian Tube = Equalizes pressure in the middle ear Cochlea = Transducts vibrations into neural signals Tympanic Membrane = Vibrates in response to sound waves</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is timbre in sound perception?

    <p>The difference in sound quality between two sounds with the same pitch</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Overtones are the lowest frequency components in a complex waveform.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What protects the inner ear from damage due to loud sounds?

    <p>The attenuation reflex.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements best describes the temporal code in auditory processing?

    <p>It's based on the firing rates of auditory neurons.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Higher characteristic frequencies in auditory neurons correspond to broader tuning curves.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What mechanism allows for encoding of sound intensity in the auditory system?

    <p>Both firing rate and the number of active hair cells.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The phase-locked response of neurons is effective up to _____ kHz.

    <p>5</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following coding mechanisms with their descriptions:

    <p>Rate Code = Represents sound intensity through firing rates Temporal Code = Relates sound frequency to timing of neuron firing Volley Principle = Describes population responses at certain frequencies Tonotopic Organization = Arrangement based on frequency throughout the auditory system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to inner hair cells at higher frequencies?

    <p>Their firing rates are inconsistent with incoming sound waves.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    All auditory nerve firings occur at every cycle of the sine wave due to the volley principle.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Sound

    • Sound is pressure changes in the air, caused by vibrations of a source.
    • Sound waves are initiated by movement disturbing air molecules, causing outward pressure changes from the source.
    • Sound travels faster in water than air (~1500 m/s vs ~340 m/s)
    • Sounds travel slower than light.
    • Prolonged exposure to intense sound can cause irreversible hearing loss.
    • Humans can hear a limited range, varying by age, from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, -5 dB to 130 dB.

    Compression and Rarefaction

    • Compression: increase in air pressure due to molecules moving in a specific direction (positive peak).
    • Rarefaction: decrease in air pressure due to molecules moving in a specific direction (negative peak).
    • A cycle is the repeating segment of air pressure changes.
    • Periodic sound waves are waves with repeating cycles of compression and rarefaction.
    • Hertz (Hz) is the unit of frequency, representing the number of cycles per second.

    Dimensions of Sound

    • Frequency: Measured in Hertz (Hz); perceived as pitch.
    • Amplitude/Intensity: Difference between maximum and minimum sound pressure; perceived as loudness.
    • Waveform: Complex shape. A complex sound is a sum of multiple pure tones.
    • Fourier analysis: mathematical tool to decompose complex waveforms into simpler sine waves, with varying frequencies and amplitudes.
    • Pure tone: A simple, sinusoidal (sine) wave.

    The Ear

    Outer Ear

    • Pinna: collects sounds from the environment.
    • Ear canal: funnels and enhances sound, with specific frequency enhancement around 2,000 Hz-5,000Hz.
    • Tympanic membrane: thin sheet of skin at the end of the ear canal, vibrating in response to sound.
    • Vibrations pass to the middle ear.

    Middle Ear

    • Ossicles: amplify vibrations (malleus, incus, stapes).
    • Muscles (tensor tympani and stapedius): control sound intensity reducing loud sounds and protecting the ear.
    • Eustachian Tube: equalizes pressure.

    Inner Ear

    • Cochlea: fluid-filled structure containing the organ of Corti.
    • Basilar membrane: separates cochlear duct from tympanic membrane; has different frequencies causing maximum displacement at the base or apex.
    • Hair cells: mechanoreceptors responsible for converting vibrations into electrical signals (action potentials).
    • Inner hair cells: 5%, innervated by type 1 auditory neurons, primary responsible for transduction.
    • Outer hair cells (~95%): innervated by type 2 auditory neurons, amplify the movement of the basilar membrane.

    Neural Representation of Frequency

    • Place code: frequency is represented by location on the basilar membrane where maximum vibration occurs. Different frequencies cause maximum displacement at different locations.
    • Temporal code: frequency is represented by the firing rate of nerve fibers matching the frequency of the sound wave.
    • Volley principle: firing rates across many neurons represent higher frequencies (more nerve fibers firing together to represent one cycle).

    Sound Intensity

    • Sound intensity is represented by the rate and the number of active hair cells
    • Increased sound intensity results in a larger area of the basilar membrane moving, activating more hair cells.
    • Firing rate of a type 1 neuron increases with intensity.
    • Saturation level: when the max firing rate is reached, the neuron can not increase firing rate any further.

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    Description

    Explore the fascinating world of sound through this quiz. Test your understanding of sound waves, compression, rarefaction, and how sound travels in different mediums. This quiz covers the basic principles of sound, its frequency, and its impact on hearing.

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