Audition

Question 1

Amplitude

Answer 1

The height of a wave, corresponding to the loudness in sound waves and brightness in light waves

Question 2

Azimuth

Answer 2

The horizontal angle with respect to the head

Question 3

Basilar membrane

Answer 3

A stiff structure in the cochlea, innervated with hair cells, which vibrates at different points along its length according to specific frequencies

Question 4

Binaural cues

Answer 4

Auditory cues that require the use of both ears, usually for localizing sound in space

Question 5

Cochlea

Answer 5

A coiled, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear containing the basilar membrane and the hair cells

Question 6

Ear canal

Answer 6

A narrowing tube in the outer ear that connects the outside world to the middle ear via the tympanic membrane

Question 7

Elevation

Answer 7

Referring to the vertical localization of a sound source, relative to the head

Question 8

Head shadow

Answer 8

A region of reduced sound intensity caused by the head acting as an obstacle to sound waves

Question 9

Inferior colliculus

Answer 9

Midbrain structure involve in integrating information about the spatial localization of sound

Question 10

Inner ear

Answer 10

The final structure of the ear before neural conduction containing the cochlea, basilar membrane, and hair cells

Question 11

Inner hair cells

Answer 11

There are relatively few, and they innervate the basilar membrane and send precise auditory signals via the cochlear nerve

Question 12

Interaural intensity difference (IID)

Answer 12

An auditory cue that results from a difference in sound intensity between the two ears

Question 13

Interaural timing difference (ITD)

Answer 13

An auditory cue that results from a difference in time of arrival of a sound stimulus to each ear

Question 14

Lateral superior olive

Answer 14

Region in the superior olivary complex responsible for computing intramural intensity differences

Question 15

Longitudinal

Answer 15

Waves that vibrate parallel to the direction they are travelling

Question 16

Loudness

Answer 16

The relative volume of a sound, derived from the amplitude

Question 17

Medial superior olive

Answer 17

Region in the superior olivary complex responsible for computing intramural time differences

Question 18

Middle ear

Answer 18

The medial structure of the ear, after the outer ear and prior to the inner ear, containing the ossicles

Question 19

Organ of Corti

Answer 19

Inner ear structure that houses the inner and outer hair cells

Question 20

Ossicles

Answer 20

Three small bones found in the middle ear that amplify sounds from outer to inner ear

Question 21

Outer ear

Answer 21

The initial structure of the ear, containing the pinna, ear canal and tympanic membrane

Question 22

Outer hair cells

Answer 22

There are relatively few, and they innervate the basilar membrane and send imprecise auditory signals via the cochlear nerve. They play a larger role in sound amplification

Question 23

Pinna *EARS!

Answer 23

The cone-shaped protuberances on the side of your head that collect sound waves and direct them into the ear canal

Question 24

Pinna cues

Answer 24

Auditory cues that aid in the perception of sound elevation

Question 25

Purity

Answer 25

The complexity of a sound wave, corresponding to the timbre

Question 26

Superior olivary complex

Answer 26

Brainstem structure responsible for the initial computing of binaural cues for sound localization

Question 27

Timbre

Answer 27

The distinctive sounds that result from constructive/destructive interference of sound waves, derived from a sound wave’s purity

Question 28

Tone

Answer 28

The pitch of a sound, derived from wavelength

Question 29

Tonotopic organization

Answer 29

Refers to the spatial organization of sound frequency on the basilar membrane and auditory brain structures

Question 30

Transverse

Answer 30

Waves that vibrate perpendicular to the direction they are travelling

Question 31

Tympanic membrane

Answer 31

Thin membrane at the end of the ear canal that separates outer and middle ear, also known as the eardrum

Question 32

Wavelength

Answer 32

Corresponding to tone in sound waves and colour in light waves