Hearing, Taste And Movement Flashcards
How are sound waves detected?
Pinna (outer ear)
Tympanic membrane (eardrum)
Cochlea (with 3 fluid filled tunnels)
Vibrations displace hair cells in cochlea
Auditory nerve (nerve bundle)
Where is the sound info processed in the brain?
Ear
Cochlear nucleus
crossover
Primary auditory cortex
What’s the place theory?
Distinguishing between frequencies
Each area of the basilar membrane refers to a specific pitch
BUT areas too tightly linked to resonate
What’s the frequency theory?
Distinguishing between frequencies
Vibrations of basilar membranes in sync with sound waves
BUT Neurons can’t fire quick enough
What’s the current view of distinguishing between frequencies?
Combination of both place theory and frequency theory
If the primary auditory cortex is damaged could it cause deafness?
Sound processing would be affected but not deafness
If the middle ear is damaged could it cause deafness?
Conductive deafness - damage of bones of the Middle ear
What happens with nerve deafness?
Damage of cochlea, hair cells
Inherited
How do the ears receive different information? (3)
Difference in time of arrival
Difference in intensity
Phase difference in sound waves
What’s the hearing range?
20hz to 20khz
What’s vestibular sensation?
Sensations of body rotation , gravitation and movement
What does the vestibular organ do and what’s it crucial for?
Detects position and movement of the head
Crucial for balance
What are the 3 semicircular canals of the vestibular organ?
Next to the inner ear
Filled with jelly like substance, lined with hair cells
How does vestibular sensation work?
Head moves
Within the 3 semicircular cans (jelly like substance moves)
Calcium carbonate particles move against hair cells
Brain stem
Cerebellum
Why are there 3 canals?
To represent the three dimensions
What 3 things make up sound? And what are they?
Sound waves - periodic compressions of air, causing vibrations
Frequency - number of compressions per time, relates to perceived pitch
Amplitude - intensity of the sound waves, relates to the perceived loudness
What affects people’s sensitivity?
The number of fungiform papillae affect people’s sensitivity to all tastes
Lots of them increase sensitivity “super tasters”
What are a group of taste buds called?
Papillae
What are taste buds similar to?
Behave like Neurons : release neurotransmitters to excite nearly Neurons
But not Neurons: modified skin cells
What are the 4 types of primary taste?
Sweet
Salty
Sour
Bitter
What recent discovery of taste has even found?
Glutamate taste receptors found in fast foods
How does the brain encode taste?
Taste
Medulla
Insula and somatosensory cortex
What 2 functions does the tongue have?
Taste
Touch
What happens when humans taste?
To obtain information on the chemical environment with physical contact and with a focus on food
What 3 chemical sensory organs do humans have?
Taste
Smell
Vomeronasal organs
What is vomeronasal sensation?
Detects odourless chemicals that affects behaviour
Receptors of olfactory bulb
Name and describe 2 movement disorders?
Huntingtons disease - arm jerks, facial twitches, body tremors
Parkinson’s disease - rigidity, muscle tremors, slow movements
Both are neurodegenerative diseases (involves deaths of Neurons in the brain)
How do we move?
Skeletal or striated muscles controls movement of body in relation to the environment
What are the 3 muscle types?
Skeletal or striated muscles
Smooth muscles
Cardiac muscles
What’s the primary motor cortex?
It has a map of areas of body’s movements
Stimulation at each spot causes specific movement
Active even when we think about movement
MOODLE
which of these brain areas are involved in behavioural actions or in initiating such movements?
Cerebral cortex
Primary motor cortex
Basal ganglia
MOODLE
Parkinson’s disease is associated with release mechanisms of which neurotransmitter?
Dopamine
MOODLE
The cerebellum is most important for processes that require…
Precise timing
