Audition

Question 1

Amplitude

Answer 1

Intensity of a sound wave
Sounds of greater amplitude seem louder

Question 2

Frequency

Answer 2

Number of compressions per second (Hertz)

Question 3

Pitch

Answer 3

Related aspect of perception
Higher frequency = higher pitch
Registered/coded in cochlea

Question 4

Timbre

Answer 4

Tone quality or tone complexity

Question 5

Prosody

Answer 5

People communicate emotion by alterations in pitch, loudness, and timbre

Question 6

Outer Ear Structures

Answer 6

Pinna

Question 7

Pinna

Answer 7

Familiar structure of flesh and cartilage attached to each side of head
Alters reflections of sounds waves to locate source of sound
Sound waves pass through auditory canal

Question 8

Middle Ear Structures

Answer 8

Tympanic membrane
Oval window
Hammer, anvil, stirrup
Eustachian tube

Question 9

Tympanic Membrane

Answer 9

Eardrum
Sound waves reach middle ear and vibrate tympanic membrane
Connects to three tiny bones that transmit the vibrations to the oval window

Question 10

Oval Window

Answer 10

Membrane of the inner ear
Smallest bones in the body
Hammer, anvil, and stirrup OR malleus, incus, and stapes
Vibrations of tympanic membrane amplify to more forceful vibrations of smaller stirrup
Net effect converts sound waves into greater pressure on small oval window
Stirrup vibrates oval window which sets into motion fluid in cochlea (induces pressure in cochlea)

Question 11

Eustachian Tube

Answer 11

Continuous fluid filled tube

Question 12

Inner Ear Structures

Answer 12

Cochlea
Round Window
Hair cells
Vestibular canal
Tympanic canal
Cochlear duct
Organ of corti

Question 13

Cochlea

Answer 13

Snail shaped structure of inner ear
Vibrations in fluid of the cochlea displace hair cells, thus opening ion channels in its membrane

Question 14

Hair Cells

Answer 14

Between cochlea basilar membrane on one side and tectorial membrane on other
Stimulate cells of the auditory nerve, part of the 8th cranial nerve

Question 15

Round Window

Answer 15

Regulates pressure in cochlea (through movement)

Question 16

Vestibular Canal

Answer 16

Scala Vestibuli
Contains perilymph

Question 17

Tympanic Canal

Answer 17

Scala timpani
Contains perilymph (share fluid body with vestibular)

Question 18

Cochlear Duct

Answer 18

Scala Media
Contains endolymph
Regulates cells which produce neurotransmitter

Question 19

Organ of Corti

Answer 19

Outer hair cells which terminate in cilia
Topped by tectorial membrane
Nerve fibres along base of membrane

Question 20

Place Theory

Answer 20

High frequency sounds
Each area along membrane tuned to specific frequency
Each frequency activates hair cells at one place along membrane
Nervous system distinguishes frequencies based on which neurons respond
Drawback: basilar membrane bound too tight together for each part of resonate individually

Question 21

Frequency/Timing Theory

Answer 21

Low frequency sounds
Entire basilar membrane vibrate with sound
Pitch is coded by firing rate of spiral ganglion cells
Action potentials are phase locked to sound frequency
Drawback: refractory period of neuron is too slow for this to happen for high frequency

Question 22

Volley Theory

Answer 22

Middle frequency sounds
Auditory nerve produces volleys of impulses for sounds
Each wave of frequency excites at least a few neurons

Question 23

Similarity between auditory and visual pathways

Answer 23

Both have ‘what’ and ‘where’ pathways
Essential for visual/auditory imagery
Need normal experiences to develop

Question 24

Methods of Sound Localization

Answer 24

Interaural level difference
Interaural time difference
Phase differences between ears

Question 25

Interaural Time Difference

Answer 25

Binaural cue
Difference in time of arrival at ears
Smaller differences in arrival time indicates source near midline
Good for sounds with sudden onset

Question 26

Interaural Level Difference

Answer 26

Best for high frequencies
Binaural cue
Intensity difference between ears
Head creates a sound shadow which makes sound louder for closer ear

Question 27

Phase Differences Between Ears

Answer 27

Good for low frequencies
Sounds that originate on one side of head strike ‘out of phase’
Spectral notches: physical divots in frequency

Question 28

Amusia

Answer 28

Tone deafness
Impairment of prefrontal cortex or input to prefrontal cortex from auditory cortex
Trouble recognizing tunes, key, ‘wrong’ notes, gauging mood based on voice
Poor memory/attention for pitch
Can be improved with practice
Transcranial alternating current on right prefrontal cortex restores ability

Question 29

Absolute Pitch

Answer 29

Perfect pitch
Ability to hear a note and identify it
Genetic predisposition and early music training
People who speak tonal languages

Question 30

Conductive Deafness/Middle Ear Deafness

Answer 30

Disease, infection, earwax, stiffening ossicles, tumorous bone growth
Prevent transmission of sound waves to cochlea
Impaire conductance of vibration
Can be corrected with surgery or earring aid
Can hear own voice but not others

Question 31

Nerve Deafness/Inner Ear Deafness

Answer 31

Cochlear hearing loss
Physical damage to cochlea, hair cells, or auditory nerve
Loud noise, drugs, viral infections, autoimmune disorder, aging, inherited
Impairs certain frequencies
Reduction in dynamic range

Question 32

Hidden Hearing Loss

Answer 32

Test as if they have normal hearing after recovering from damage
Issues understanding others in crowded rooms
Issues with focus in loud environment

Question 33

Tinnitus

Answer 33

Frequent/constant ringing in ear
Tinny, high pitched
Abnormal tonotopic map
Damage to cochlea is like amputation, phantom limb

Question 34

Presbycusis

Answer 34

Related to age
Rduction of range
Difficulty with higher pitch
Stiffening of cochlea