Problem Set #3

Question 1

Name the cells where sound vibrations are converted into neural signals.

Answer 1

inner hair cells

Question 2

What cells in your inner ear control the stiffness of the cochlear partition?

Answer 2

outer hair cells

Question 3

What is the range of (a) frequencies and (b) intensities that a normal human auditory
system can process? Give lower and upper limits, and specify the units.

Answer 3

frequency: 20 – 20,000 Hz
intensity: 0 – 120 dB (upper limit anywhere in range 100 dB to 140 dB is OK)

Question 4

What are the “efferent fibers” in the ear?

Answer 4

the auditory nerve fibers that send signals to the outer hair cells

Question 5

9. What is the illusion of the missing fundamental?

Answer 5

the phenomenon that a note’s perceived pitch does not change when we remove its
fundamental frequency

Question 6

What is a cone of confusion?

Answer 6

All the points in space that produce a particular interaural time difference and interaural
level difference