Audition Flashcards
What is naive realism?
The belief that the world is exactly as we perceive it, without questioning or analyzing it.
What is top-down processing?
Perception influenced by prior knowledge or expectations, shaping how we interpret information.
Why do younger people hear “Yanny” and older people hear “Laurel”?
“Yanny” is in a higher frequency range, which younger people can hear better. Older people often lose the ability to hear high frequencies and hear “Laurel,” which is in a lower frequency range.
What is the human range of hearing in hertz?
20 to 20,000 Hz.
Why can dogs hear a dog whistle and humans can’t?
Dogs can detect higher frequencies beyond the human range of hearing.
Why might hearing aids not help with high-frequency hearing loss?
Hearing aids amplify all sounds, not just specific frequencies, and does not improve detection of high-frequency sounds.
What are the parts of the external ear and their functions?
Pinna: Captures sound waves and helps with sound localization.
Auditory Canal: Narrows to amplify sound.( like a horn)
Eardrum (Tympanic membrane): Vibrates in response to sound waves.
What happens to the muscles in the ear after long sound exposure?
They get tired and can’t prevent over-amplification as effectively.
What is the role of ossicles?
They amplify sound in the middle ear.
What does the oval window do?
It connects to the cochlea and transmits sound into it.
What does the round window do?
It moves in and out to accommodate fluid motion in the cochlea.
What is the cochlea responsible for?
It contains fluid and neural tissue and converts fluid motion into neural impulses.
What are sound waves?
Vibrations in air particles caused by a sudden burst of air, creating a chain reaction.
How do dense air particles affect the eardrum?
More dense = eardrum moves inward; Less dense = eardrum moves outward.
What are the psychological properties of audition and their physical counterparts?
Pitch = Wavelength
Timbre = Purity
Loudness = Amplitude
How is loudness represented on a graph?
By the amplitude; taller waves = louder sounds. Measured in decibels.
What determines pitch (on a graph)?
Measured in Hertz; closer peaks = higher pitch, more spread = lower pitch.
What is timbre?
The perceived complexity of sound—multiple wavelengths forming a mix of pitches.
What is the basilar membrane?
Contains hearing receptors; different frequencies vibrate different regions.
Where do low and high frequencies vibrate the basilar membrane?
Low Frequency = apex (wider area)
High Frequency = base (thinner area)
Why do mammals hear a wider frequency range than birds/amphibians?
Mammals have longer basilar membranes.
Where are hair cells located?
On the basilar membrane.
What are inner hair cells responsible for?
Sending auditory information to the brain;
What are some properties of the inner hair cells?
there are fewer of them, but they are thick and myelinated.
