Lesson 5

Question 1

Pitch

Answer 1

Determined by the length (or frequency) of a sound wave

Question 2

Amplitude

Answer 2

The height or depth of a wave signal such as sound, which correlates with perceived loudness in sound waves
- How loud a sound is, is determined by the sound waves’ amplitude.

Question 3

Loudness

Answer 3

Determined by the sound waves’ amplitude.

Question 4

Pitch perception

Answer 4

A constructive listening process that searches for common elements across sounds, even though the sounds are not identical

Question 5

Place theory

Answer 5

Assumes that we hear different pitches because different sound waves trigger activity at different places along the cochlea’s basilar membrane.
- The brain determines a sound’s pitch by recognizing the specific place on the membrane that generated the neural signal.
- Problem = cannot really explain how we hear low-pitched sounds - because these vibrations are located right at the end of the membrane and are not well organized

Question 6

Volley theory

Answer 6

This theory suggests that clusters of neurons take turns firing in sequence of rhythmic volleys - the number of volleys determines pitch.

Question 7

Frequency theory

Answer 7

Suggests that the brain deciphers the frequency of the neural impulses travelling up the auditory nerve to the brain. The rate of nerve impulses travelling, matches the frequency of a tone, thus enabling us to understand pitch.

Question 8

Sound localization

Answer 8

The process by which you determine the location of the sound
- If your friend calls to you from the left side, your left ear hears a sound louder than that of your right ear

Question 9

Conduction deafness

Answer 9

Hearing loss caused by damage to the middle ear system, such as the eardrum, that conducts sound waves to the cochlea.
- People with conduction deafness can hear vibrations when they reach the cochlea by ways other than through the middle ear.

Question 10

Sensorineural deafness

Answer 10

Hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea’s receptor cells or to the auditory nerves.
(known as ‘nerve deafness’)