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Questions and Answers
What does frequency determine about a sound?
A sound with a sinusoidal waveform is known as a complex sound.
False
What is the unit of measurement for amplitude?
decibel
The lowest sound frequency we can hear is _____ decibels.
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What does a spectogram represent?
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Exposure to sounds at 130 decibels can harm hearing ability.
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What is the process of breaking down a sound into its constituent frequencies called?
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Match the following sound descriptions with their characteristics:
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What results from the absence of the three bones in the ear?
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Cochlear implants can regenerate hair cells in the cochlea.
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What is the primary function of the superior olivary nucleus in the auditory pathway?
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People aged 65-74 have a hearing loss rate of approximately ___ in ___ in the United States.
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Match the hearing devices with their functions:
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What happens to hearing ability as hair cells in the cochlea die?
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Age-related hearing loss is enhanced by exposure to loud sounds.
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What should be noted about the sound arrival at two ears?
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What is the primary function of the pinna in the ear?
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The cochlea is a straight tube responsible for hearing.
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What does the basilar membrane do?
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Hair cells sit on top of the __________ membrane.
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What occurs when the hair cells in the cochlea move?
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Match each component with its function in the ear:
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The auditory nerve conveys signals from hair cells to the cochlear nucleus in the brainstem.
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What happens if a person does not have the three middle ear bones?
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Study Notes
Sound: Vibration and Perception
- Sound is vibration, traveling through mediums like air or water.
- Frequency determines pitch, measured in Hertz (Hz).
- Amplitude determines loudness, measured in decibels (dB).
Pure Tones vs. Complex Sounds
- A pure tone has a sinusoidal waveform (like a single piano key).
- Most sounds are complex sounds (e.g., a bus arriving) composed of multiple frequencies.
- Fourier Transform decomposes complex sounds into their component frequencies.
Loudness and Hearing Damage
- Higher decibels correspond to louder sounds.
- The human hearing range is from 0 dB (lowest) to 130 dB (extremely harmful).
- Prolonged exposure to high decibels can damage hair cells, leading to hearing loss.
The Ear and Sound Transmission
- Pinna: Collects sound and directs it to the ear canal.
- Tympanic Membrane: Vibrates in response to sound pressure waves.
- Middle Ear Bones: Transmit vibrations to the cochlea.
The Cochlea and Basilar Membrane
- Cochlea: A coiled tube containing the basilar membrane.
- Basilar Membrane: Vibrates in response to sound waves, with different regions responding to different frequencies.
- High frequency: Vibrates the basal end of the basilar membrane.
- Low frequency: Vibrates the apical end of the basilar membrane.
- The basilar membrane decomposes complex sounds into their component frequencies.
Hair Cells and Auditory Perception
- Hair Cells: Sit on top of the basilar membrane, moving with its vibrations.
- Depolarization: Movement of hair cells opens potassium channels, leading to depolarization.
- Neurotransmitter Release: Depolarization triggers neurotransmitter release, but not action potentials.
- Auditory Nerve: Transmits signals from hair cells to the cochlear nucleus in the brainstem.
- Loudness: The larger the movement of the basilar membrane, the more glutamate released, indicating a louder sound.
- Frequency: The amount of glutamate released corresponds to the frequency of the sound.
Hearing Loss: Conductive and Hair Cell Damage
- Conductive Hearing Loss: Occurs when sound waves are not transmitted effectively to the cochlea (e.g., damage to middle ear bones).
- Hair Cell Death: Hair cells do not regenerate; loss of hair cells leads to permanent hearing loss.
- Noise and Age-Related Hearing Loss: Excessive noise exposure and aging contribute to hair cell death.
Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants
- Hearing Aids: Amplify sound to compensate for hearing loss, for individuals with some remaining hair cell function.
- Cochlear Implants: Bypass damaged hair cells, directly stimulating the auditory nerve for individuals with severe hearing loss.
Sound Localization: The Superior Olivary Nucleus
- Cochlear Nuclei: Send information to the superior olivary nuclei.
- Superior Olivary Nuclei (Brainstem): Crucial for sound localization.
- Sound Localization: Computed by the brain, not encoded by peripheral receptors.
- Two Ears: Provide cues for sound localization based on timing and intensity differences between the ears.
- Sound Arriving First: Sound reaches one ear slightly before the other, providing directional information.
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Description
Explore the fundamental concepts of sound, including how vibrations travel through different mediums and the distinction between pure tones and complex sounds. Understand the science behind frequency, amplitude, and the hearing mechanisms in humans, as well as the implications of loud sounds on hearing health.
