Hearing in the Environment

Question 1

decay

Answer 1

The part of a sound during which amplitude decreases (offset).

Question 2

interaural time difference (ITD)

Answer 2

The difference in time between a sound arriving at one ear versus the other.

Question 3

auditory stream segregation

Answer 3

The perceptual organization of a complex acoustic signal into separate auditory events for which each stream is heard as a separate event.

Question 5

fundamental frequency

Answer 5

The lowest-frequency component of a complex periodic sound.

Question 6

azimuth

Answer 6

The angle of a sound source on the horizontal plane relative to a point in the center of the head between the ears. Azimuth is measured in degrees, with 0 degrees being straight ahead. The angle increases clockwise toward the right, with 180 degrees being directly behind.

Question 6

inverse-square law

Answer 6

A principle stating that as distance from a source increases, intensity initially decreases much faster than distance increases, such that the decrease in intensity is equal to the increase in distance squared. This general law also applies to optics and other forms of energy.

Question 7

source segregation or auditory scene analysis

Answer 7

Processing an auditory scene consisting of multiple sound sources into separate sound images.

Question 8

medial superior olive (MSO)

Answer 8

A relay station in the brain stem where inputs from both ears contribute to detection of the interaural time difference.

Question 9

lateral superior olive (LSO)

Answer 9

A relay station in the brain stem where inputs from both ears contribute to detection of the interaural level difference.

Question 10

cone of confusion

Answer 10

A region of positions in space where all sounds produce the same time and level (intensity) differences (ITDs and ILDs).

Question 11

directional transfer function (DTF)

Answer 11

A measure that describes how the pinna, ear canal, head, and torso change the intensity of sounds with different frequencies that arrive at each ear from different locations in space (azimuth and elevation).

Question 12

interaural level difference (ILD)

Answer 12

The difference in level (intensity) between a sound arriving at one ear versus the other.

Question 13

timbre

Answer 13

The psychological sensation by which a listener can judge that two sounds with the same loudness and pitch are dissimilar. Timbre quality is conveyed by harmonics and other high frequencies.

Question 14

attack

Answer 14

The part of a sound during which amplitude increases (onset).