Ch. 4.3 - The Auditory System

Question 1

sound (2)

Answer 1

• pitch: perceptual experience of sound wave frequencies

- loudness: perceptual experience of amplitude

Question 2

outer ear (3)

Answer 2

pinna, auditory canal, eardrum

Question 3

middle ear (4)

Answer 3

ossicles (malleus, incus, stapes)

Question 4

inner ear

Answer 4

cochlea

Question 5

place theory of hearing

Answer 5

how we perceive pitch is based on the location (place) along the basilar membrane that sound stimulates

Question 6

frequency theory

Answer 6

states the perception of pitch is related to the frequency at which the basilar membrane vibrates

Question 7

volley principle

Answer 7

neurons fire in rapid succession

Question 8

cochlear nucleus

Answer 8

crossover of auditory signals to contralateral hemisphere

Question 9

medial geniculate nucleus

Answer 9

structure within thalamus responsible for routing of auditory info

Question 10

primary auditory cortex (2)

Answer 10

• major perceptual centre of brain involved in perceiving what we hear
• organized similar to cochlea (tonotopic map)

Question 11

multimodal integration

Answer 11

combining sensation from different modalities into single integrated perception

Question 12

points multimedia integration (3)

Answer 12

• dependent on spatial and temporal association
• integration usually seamless, but can be disrupted
• McGurk effect: occurs in the midbrain by the superior (visual) and inferior (auditory) colliculi

Question 13

sound localization (3)

Answer 13

• process of identifying where sounds come from
• controlled by inferior colliculus
• achieved by: interaural time differences and sound shadow