The Auditory System (4)

Question 1

What makes sound occur?

Answer 1

Generated energy causes waves of changing air pressure that we perceive as sound

Question 2

Mechanical displacement of molecules caused by changing pressure

Answer 2

Sound wave

Question 3

What are the three physical attributes of sound waves?

Answer 3

Frequency, amplitude, complexity

Question 4

The number of cycles a sound wave completes in a given amount of time

Answer 4

Frequency

Question 5

Which characteristic of a sound does frequency equate to?

Answer 5

Pitch

Question 6

The intensity of a sound

Answer 6

Amplitude

Question 7

Why can we perceive more than one sound at a time?

Answer 7

Each sound wave’s frequency stimulates different neurons

Question 8

What is the general pathway that sound takes to the brain?

Answer 8

1. Ear collects sound waves from surounding air
2. Converts mechanical energy to neuronal activity
3. Routed through the brainstem and then to the auditory cortex (A1)

Question 9

What are the three main functions of the auditory system?

Answer 9

1. Decode frequency, amplitude and complexity
2. Locate sound waves in space
3. Analyze sounds for meaning and be able to produce sounds

Question 10

What are the three main regions of the ear?

Answer 10

Outer, middle, inner

Question 11

Funnel-like external structure of the outer ear that catches sound waves in the surrounding environment and deflects them into the ear
canal

Answer 11

Pinna