Auditory & Somatosensory

Question 1

To what are the receptors in the auditory system sensitive?

Answer 1

Degrees of density of compressed air

Question 2

What is the function of the tympanic membrane?

Answer 2

Vibrates with sound waves (compressed air that causes it to contract and expand; transmits to malleus, incus, and stapes

Question 3

What are the malleus, incus, and stapes? What are the function?

Answer 3

Bones in the middle ear (the ossicles); vibrate against membrane in the cochlea

Question 4

Where are auditory receptors located?

Answer 4

In the cochlea

Question 5

What does the Organ of Corti do?

Answer 5

It sends auditory info to the brain via the cochlear nerve

Question 6

What is the superior olivary complex?

Answer 6

Found in the medulla; where perception of sound location is processed

Question 7

True or false: Auditory info projects unilaterally but is mostly bilateral?

Answer 7

False; auditory info projects bilaterally but is mostly contralateral

Question 8

What is the belt region?

Answer 8

The first level of auditory association cortex; surrounds primary auditory cortex

Question 9

What is the parabelt?

Answer 9

The highest level of auditory association cortex

Question 10

What is tonotopic representation?

Answer 10

Preserved through the entire pathway all the way up to the auditory cortex

Question 11

In the auditory cortex, more ___ means lower frequency sounds.

Answer 11

Anterior

Question 12

In the auditory cortex, more _____ means higher frequency sounds.

Answer 12

Posterior

Question 13

What is the core?

Answer 13

Primary auditory cortex; divided into 3 zones that receive input from 3 different areas of medial geniculate

Question 14

What occurs with damage to primary auditory cortex?

Answer 14

Impairment in ability to discriminate rapidly occurring sounds; it does not produce deafness

Question 15

What is the auditory posterior pathway?

Answer 15

The “where system”; projects to parietal area and mediates sound localization

Question 16

What is the auditory anterior pathway?

Answer 16

The “what system”; projects to anterior temporal lobe and mediates analysis of complex sounds/sound identity

Question 17

How does the brain discriminate the identity of multiple sounds?

Answer 17

Pattern recognition (occurs in primary and association auditory cortex); the brain makes patterns and directs these patterns to the relevant area of the association area to do the processing

Question 18

What do fMRI studies show in terms of determining sound location and sound identity?

Answer 18

Determining sound location activates dorsal auditory association area; determining sound identity activates ventral auditory association area

Question 19

What are cutaneous receptors?

Answer 19

Receive various signals from the sign that form the sense of touch; pressure, vibration, temperature, pain

Question 20

What is kinesthesia?

Answer 20

Info about body position and movement (position of limbs, strength of movement, direction of movement); comes from receptors in the joints, tendons, and muscles

Question 21

What is touch?

Answer 21

Involves the perception of pressure and vibration of an object on skin PLUS kinesthesia about the shape of your hand; i.e., these combined give you sensation of touch

Question 22

What are the three perceptual/behavioral effects of pain?

Answer 22

Sensory component, immediate emotional response, long-term emotional consequences

Question 23

Where is the sensory aspect of pain mediated?

Answer 23

Primary and secondary somatosensory cortex; painful stimuli also activate insula/insular cortex

Question 24

Where is the emotional response to pain mediated?

Answer 24

Anterior cingulate (part of the limbic system); true particularly for aversiveness

Question 25

What is analgesia?

Answer 25

A decrease in pain severity

Question 26

What neural circuits in the brain produce analgesia?

Answer 26

Most found in periaqueductal gray; also medulla

Question 27

What are the projections and connections to/with the periaqueductal gray?

Answer 27

Prefrontal lobes (emotional regulation, planning), amygdala (emotional memory), hypothalamus (control of autonomic ns); demonstrates the rx between emotional activation, pain, and analgesia