Audition Flashcards
Amplitude
The height of a wave, corresponding to the loudness in sound waves and brightness in light waves
Azimuth
The horizontal angle with respect to the head
Basilar membrane
A stiff structure in the cochlea, innervated with hair cells, which vibrates at different points along its length according to specific frequencies
Binaural cues
Auditory cues that require the use of both ears, usually for localizing sound in space
Cochlea
A coiled, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear containing the basilar membrane and the hair cells
Ear canal
A narrowing tube in the outer ear that connects the outside world to the middle ear via the tympanic membrane
Elevation
Referring to the vertical localization of a sound source, relative to the head
Head shadow
A region of reduced sound intensity caused by the head acting as an obstacle to sound waves
Inferior colliculus
Midbrain structure involve in integrating information about the spatial localization of sound
Inner ear
The final structure of the ear before neural conduction containing the cochlea, basilar membrane, and hair cells
Inner hair cells
There are relatively few, and they innervate the basilar membrane and send precise auditory signals via the cochlear nerve
Interaural intensity difference (IID)
An auditory cue that results from a difference in sound intensity between the two ears
Interaural timing difference (ITD)
An auditory cue that results from a difference in time of arrival of a sound stimulus to each ear
Lateral superior olive
Region in the superior olivary complex responsible for computing intramural intensity differences
Longitudinal
Waves that vibrate parallel to the direction they are travelling
Loudness
The relative volume of a sound, derived from the amplitude
Medial superior olive
Region in the superior olivary complex responsible for computing intramural time differences
Middle ear
The medial structure of the ear, after the outer ear and prior to the inner ear, containing the ossicles
Organ of Corti
Inner ear structure that houses the inner and outer hair cells
Ossicles
Three small bones found in the middle ear that amplify sounds from outer to inner ear
Outer ear
The initial structure of the ear, containing the pinna, ear canal and tympanic membrane
Outer hair cells
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
Pinna *EARS!
The cone-shaped protuberances on the side of your head that collect sound waves and direct them into the ear canal
Pinna cues
Auditory cues that aid in the perception of sound elevation
Purity
The complexity of a sound wave, corresponding to the timbre
Superior olivary complex
Brainstem structure responsible for the initial computing of binaural cues for sound localization
Timbre
The distinctive sounds that result from constructive/destructive interference of sound waves, derived from a sound wave’s purity
Tone
The pitch of a sound, derived from wavelength
Tonotopic organization
Refers to the spatial organization of sound frequency on the basilar membrane and auditory brain structures
Transverse
Waves that vibrate perpendicular to the direction they are travelling
Tympanic membrane
Thin membrane at the end of the ear canal that separates outer and middle ear, also known as the eardrum
Wavelength
Corresponding to tone in sound waves and colour in light waves
