Chapter 4: Sensory Systems and Perception- Auditory, Mechanical, and Chemical Senses

Question 1

auditory scene

Answer 1

The overall perception of the auditory environment at any point in time. Analogous to the perception of a visual scene.

Question 2

basilar membrane

Answer 2

The membranous sheet in the cochlea of the inner ear that contains the receptor cells (hair cells) that initiate audition.

Question 3

cochlea

Answer 3

The portion of the inner ear specialized for transducing sound energy into neural signals.

Question 4

coincidence dectector

Answer 4

A neuron that detects simultaneous events, as in sound localization.

Question 5

delay line

Answer 5

The time delay generated by axons of different lengths; a mechanism important in coincidence detection.

Question 6

external ear

Answer 6

The cartilaginous elements of the visible ear (the pinna and concha).

Question 7

fundamental frequency

Answer 7

The first vibratory mode in the harmonic series evident in the sound spectra generated by a vibrating string or column of air.

Question 8

gustatory system

Answer 8

Also called taste system. The peripheral and central components of the nervous system dedicated to processing and perceiving taste stimuli.

Question 9

hair cell

Answer 9

The receptor cell in the inner ear for transducing sound stimuli (or other mechanical stimuli the case of vestibular hair cells) into neural signals.

Question 10

harmonic series

Answer 10

The series of vibratory modes evident in the spectra produced by resonating objects.

Question 11

homunculus (pl. homunculi)

Answer 11

Literally “little man” (Greek), often used in referring to the shape of a primary sensory or motor cortical map. Also used to refer (often negatively) to the dualist notion of a non-neurally based “self”.

Question 12

inferior colliculi (sign. inferior colliculus)

Answer 12

Paired structures on the dorsal surface of the midbrain; concerned with auditory processing. Compare superior colliculi).

Question 13

insula

Answer 13

Literally “island” (in Latin). The portion of the cerebral cortex that is buried within the depths of the Sylvian fissure (lateral sulcus).

Question 14

interaural intensity difference

Answer 14

The difference in the intensity of a sound stimulus at the two ears; contributes to sound localization. Compare interaural time difference.

Question 15

interaural time difference

Answer 15

The difference in the time of arrival of a sound stimulus at the two ears; contributes to sound localization. Compare to
interaural intensity difference.

Question 16

loudness

Answer 16

The sensory quality elicited by the intensity of sound stimuli.

Question 17

middle ear

Answer 17

The portion of the ear between the eardrum and the oval window; contains the three small bones that amplify sound stimuli mechanically.

Question 18

nociceptor

Answer 18

a cell that responds specifically to potentially harmful stimuli.

Question 19

noise

Answer 19

a sound stimulus that is aperiodic.

Question 20

nucleus of the lateral lemniscus

Answer 20

A brainstem nucleus in the primary auditory pathway.

Question 21

nucleus of the solitary tract

Answer 21

A brainstem nucleus that integrates gustatory and other information relevant to to the autonomic control of the gut and other autonomic target organs.

Question 22

odor

Answer 22

The perception elicited by a soluble chemical that interacts with olfactory receptors.

Question 23

olfactory bulb

Answer 23

The olfactory relay station that receives axons from the olfactory cranial nerve and transmits this information via the olfactory tract to higher centers.

Question 24

olfactory epithelium

Answer 24

Pseudostratified epithelium that contains olfactory receptor cells, supporting cells, and mucus-secreting glands in the nasal cavity.

Question 25

olfactory system

Answer 25

The sensory system that includes the olfactory epithelium of the nasal cavity, the olfactory tract, and olfactory bulbs; mediates the perception of odors

Question 26

olfactory tracts

Answer 26

The projection from the olfactory bulbs to higher olfactory centers.

Question 27

oval window

Answer 27

The site where the middle ear bones transfer vibrational energy to the cochlea.

Question 28

pain

Answer 28

the highly unpleasant percepts generated by stimuli are potentially damaging.

Question 29

pain system

Answer 29

A system for warning an animal about potentially harmful stimuli. While largely responsive to mechanical, it is also closely related to responses to temperature and noxious chemicals

Question 30

pheromone

Answer 30

a chemical signal produced by an animal such as a rodent, typically from glands, the mediates aspects of social communication.

Question 31

primary auditory cortex (A1)

Answer 31

The cortical target of the neurons in the medical geniculate nucleus; terminus of the primary auditory pathway. Compare secondary auditory cortex.

Question 32

primary auditory pathway

Answer 32

The pathway from the inner ear to the primary auditory cortex in the temporal lobe.

Question 33

primary somatosensory cortex (S1)

Answer 33

The cortex of the postcentral gyrus of the parietal lobe that receives mechanosensory input from the thalamus. Compare secondary somatosensory cortex.

Question 34

resonance

Answer 34

The tendency of any physical object to vibrate maximally at a certain frequency

Question 35

sensory auditory cortex (A2)

Answer 35

also called belt areas. The cortical region surrounding the primary auditory cortex. Compare primary auditory cortex.

Question 36

secondary somatosensory cortex (S2)

Answer 36

A higher-order somatosensory cortex map in the parietal lobe adjacent to S1.

Question 37

somatotopic map

Answer 37

The corresponding anatomical arrangement of the sensory periphery and its central representation.

Question 38

sound spectrum

Answer 38

The analysis of a sound stimulus showing the distribution of power as a function of frequency.

Question 39

sound wave

Answer 39

The periodic compression and rarefaction of air molecules underlying a sound stimulus.

Question 40

superior olivary complex

Answer 40

a complex brainstem nuclei in the primary auditory pathway

Question 41

taste

Answer 41

the sensory modality comprising the perception of substances placed in the mouth

Question 42

taste bud

Answer 42

an onion-shaped structure in the mouth or pharynx that contains taste cells.

Question 43

thalamus

Answer 43

a collection of nuclei that forms the major component of the diencephalon. Has many functions; a primary role is to relay sensory information from the periphery to the cerebral cortex

Question 44

timbre

Answer 44

the quality of sound by which stimuli that elicit the same pitch and loudness are distinguished; often taken to arise from the distribution of power in the waveform, as opposed to its periodicity.

Question 45

tone

Answer 45

the sound heard in response to a particular frequency of vibration or combination of vibrations that are strongly periodic

Question 46

tonotopic organization

Answer 46

the central arrangement of tone analysis in the auditory system that roughly corresponds to the peripheral responsiveness of the basilar membrane.

Question 47

trigeminal chemosensory system

Answer 47

the chemosensory system that responds to irritating chemicals that enter the nose or mouth

Question 48

tympanic membrane

Answer 48

the eardrum

Question 49

ventral posterior nuclear complex

Answer 49

a group of thalamic nuclei that receives the somatosensory projections from the dorsal column nuclei and the trigeminal nuclear complex