Lecture 12 Flashcards

1
Q

Sound

A

Comes from pressure fluctuations in the air

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2
Q

Sound pressure (Pascals)

A

Measures force exerted by air molecules

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3
Q

Loudness

A

Psychological perception of sound intensity

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4
Q

Decibels (dB)

A

Measures loudness. Relative to the smallest perceivable pressure

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5
Q

0 dB doesn’t mean 0 sound

A

Represents the minimum audible level

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6
Q

Logarithmic Scaling

A

+10 dB = 10 x increase in intensity
-E.g. the sound of a helicopter is 10x more intense than the sound of a hairdryer

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7
Q

Pitch

A

The psychological aspect of sound related mainly to the fundamental frequency

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8
Q

Equal-Loudness Curve

A

A graph plotting sound pressure level (dB SPL) against the frequency for which a listener perceives constant loudness
-E.g. sounds of 70 dB at 0.2 kHz and 60 dB at 1kHz will sound equally loud (60 photons)

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9
Q

Harmonic Spectrum

A

The spectrum of a complex sound in which energy is at integer multiples of the fundamental frequency
-Typically caused by a simple vibrating source

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10
Q

Fundamental Frequency

A

The lowest-frequency component of a complex periodic sound

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11
Q

Timbre

A

The psychological sensation by which a listener can judge that 2 sounds with the same loudness and pitch are dissimilar
-Timbre quality is conveyed by the profile of the harmonics
-E.g. 2 voices can measure the same loudness + pitch, but sound different

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12
Q

Auditory Canal

A

A tube-like structure that directs sound waves from the outer ear to the tympanic membrane (eardrum)

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13
Q

Tympanic Membrane (Eardrum)

A

A thin, vibrating membrane that separates the outer ear from the middle ear and transmits sound vibrations to the ossicles

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14
Q

Ossicles

A

3 small bones in the middle ear (malleus, incus, and stapes) that amplify and transmit sound vibrations to the inner ear

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15
Q

Cochlea

A

A spiral-shaped, fluid-filled structure in the inner ear that converts sound vibrations into neural signals for hearing

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16
Q

Oval Window

A

A membrane-covered opening that connects the midle ear to the cochlea, transmitting vibrations from the ossicles

17
Q

Round Window

A

A flexible membrane in the cochlea that helps relieve pressure from sound waves travelling through the cochlear fluid

18
Q

Cochlear (Auditory) Nerve

A

The nerve that carries auditory information from the cochlea to the brain for sound processing

19
Q

Organ of Corti

A

A structure on the basilar membrane of the cochlea that is composed of hair cells and dendrites of auditory nerve fibers

20
Q

Basilar Membrane

A

A structure within the cochlea that vibrates in response to sound and plays a key role in frequency discrimination by supporting hair cells

21
Q

Tectorial Membrane

A

A gelatinous membrane in the cochlea that interacts with hair cells, aiding in the conversion of mechanical sound vibrations into electrical signals

22
Q

Hair Cells

A

Sensory receptor cells in the cochlea that detect sound vibrations and convert them into neural signals transmitted to the brain via the auditory nerve

23
Q

Place Code

A

Identifies each pitch with a particular place along the basilar membrane.
-Lower frequencies travel further
-Higher frequencies closer the outside

24
Q

Temporal Coding

A

Auditory nerve firing is also ‘‘phase-locked’’, i.e. neurons systematically fire at a given time point of the cycle
-However, above 4000Hz-5000Hz the refractory period of AN fibers doesn’t allow neurons to fire fast enough

25
Q

Volley Principle

A

Even if individual auditory nerve fibers can’t keep the pace, the whole population of neurons can still temporally encode the frequency

26
Q

Cochlear Nucleus

A

The first brainstem region that receives auditory signals from the cochlea, where initial sound processing occurs

27
Q

Superior Olive

A

A brainstem structure involved in sound localization by comparing timing and intensity differences between ears

28
Q

Inferior Colliculus

A

A midbrain structure that integrates auditory information from various brainstem nuclei and plays a role in reflexive responses to sound

29
Q

Medial Geniculate Nucleus (MGN)

A

A relay station in the thalamus that processes and transmits auditory information to the primary auditory cortex

30
Q

Primary Auditory Cortex

A

The region of the cerebral cortex responsible for processing and interpreting sound information, located in the temporal lobe

31
Q

Tonotopy

A

The spatial organization of sound frequency processing in the auditory system, where different frequencies are mapped to specific locations along the cochlea and auditory cortex

32
Q

Belt Region

A

A secondary auditory area surrounding the primary auditory cortex that processes more complex sounds like speech

33
Q

Parabelt Region

A

A higher-order auditory processing area adjacent to the belt region that processes more complex sounds like speech

34
Q

'’Where’’ Pathway

A

The dorsal stream of auditory processing that helps determine the location and mouvement of sounds, connecting auditory areas to the parietal lobe

35
Q

'’What’’ Pathway

A

The ventral stream of auditory processing that identifies and categorizes sounds, such as speech and music, linking auditory regions to the temporal lobe