Sensory Four - Hearing part two Flashcards
What does central auditory processing lead to?
Central processing of the auditory nerve activity leads to the perception of:
- Intensity (dB)
- Pitch (Hz)
- Localisation of sound.
Whats the final point in the auditory pathway?
The auditory cortex, where hearing, speech and language centers overlap.
What does the central auditory pathway being with?
The spiral ganglion
The spiral ganglion neurons run from the cochlear to:
Through the 8th cranial nerve (vestibulocochlear) to first relay nuclie - which is the Dorsal+Ventral cochlear nucleus.
Where do fibers go from the dorsal+ventral cochlear nucleus?
Ventral Cochlear nucleus -> Sup. Olive complex Left hemishere and on the right hemisphere
Dorsal Cochlear nucleus -> inferior colliculus (bypass via the lateral laminiscus pathway)
Where do fibers go from the sup olive complex on the left and right side?
Left side side goes to the left inferior colliculus
Right side goes to the right inferior colliculus
From the inferior colliculus where do the fibers go?
MGN Medial Gentate Nucleus then on to the auditory cortex in the temporal lobe
What other fibres project into the auditory pathway?
Fibers from the:
Superior Colliculus
Feedback from the auditory cortex - to control and regulate OHC response.
What point in the auditory pathway do the nuclei receive input from both ears?
Sup. olivary complex (first relay nuclei to do this)
Why is the point where the auditory pathway starts to receive input from both ears important clinically?
AS from this point onwards damage to the pathway results in hearing loss in both ears
How does the auditory nerve encode frequencies?
Each auditory nerve responds to a specific frequency with maximum firing rate (go away from this Hz and firing decreases) This property is known as characteristic Hz
How do auditory nerves encode for intensity?
At a constant Hz higher intensity produces higher rate of firing over low intensity sound
How else is intensity encoded?
Firing rate of neurons increases and number of neurons firing increases also when the intensity of sound increases.
Why does a higher intensity sound result in more neurons being recruited?
A higher intensity sound will result in greater movement of the basilar membrane therefore activation of more OHC+IHC leading to the activation of more neurons.
What is the basilar membrane also known as?
The mechanical analyzer of frequencies.
How is the basilar membrane organized?
Tonotopically
The Base is thin and high Hz are detected here while the apex is wide and low Hz sounds are detected here
I.e the neurons innervating each part will have their highest firing rate for the Hz that results in maximum amplitude of that part of the basilar membrane.
How is the cochlear also tonotopically organized?
High Hz detected more medially than lower Hz which is more laterally.
Apart from the tonotopic organisation of the cochlear / basilar membrane what is another important aspect of frequency analysis?
The timing of neuronal firing.
How does freqency of sound and timing of neuronal firing differ?
Low Hz = Phase locking. One Hz = One neuron discharge
Med Hz (1-4KHz) = Phase locking but not every wave i.e every 4th wave = neuron discharge this also relies on tonotopy for Hz discrimination (volley principle)
High Hz (4+KHz) = Random neuron firing, relies solely on tonotopy for Hz discrimination
What is the volley principle?
Up to 4KHz a pool of phase locked activity representative of a particular Hz.