PSYC 230 UIUC EXAM #2
Sound stimulus - answers- the periodic variations in air pressure traveling out from the
source
Sound waves - answers- the waves of pressure changes that occur in the air as a
function of the vibration of a source
Medium of sound - answers- a material (solid, liquid, or gas, or combination of these)
through which a wave travels. In water, sound travels 4x faster than it does through air.
Pure tones - answers- a sound wave in which changes in air pressure follow a sine
wave pattern.
Amplitude - answers- the difference between the peak and the baseline of a wave
(height of wave).
Loudness - answers- perceptual experience of amplitude
Loud sounds can be dangerous - answers- prolonged contact to sounds over 85 db can
eventually cause hearing loss. Sounds louder than 120 db are painful. Sounds louder
than 130 db will generally result in immediate and permanent hearing loss.
Frequency - answers- the number of cycles in a sound stimulus that occur in 1 second
Pitch - answers- the subjective experience of frequency
What unit is used to measure sound amplitude? - answers- hertz (hz)
What is the hearing range of humans and how does it change with age? - answers- 20-
20,000 hz. As people age, hearing in the highest range dissipates. Lowest frequencies
tend to remain stable with age.
Outer ear - answers- pinna, external auditory canal, tympanic membrane (eardrum)
Pinna - answers- collects sound and funnels it into the auditory canal
External auditory canal - answers- conducts sound to the tympanic membrane,
amplifies specific sound frequencies.
Tympanic membrane (eardrum) - answers- thin elastic sheet.
Middle ear - answers- eustachian tube
Tensor tympani
Stapedius
Ossicles:
, Malleus (hammer)
Incus (anvil)
Stapes (stirrup)
Eustachian tube - answers- connects the middle ear with the pharynx. Equalizes air
pressure on either side of the eardrum
Tensor tympani and stapedius - answers- muscles attached to the malleus and stapes
Incus (anvil) - answers- the middle bone which is connected to the malleus and
hammer, passes vibrations onto the stapes.
Ossicles - answers- 3 small bones in the middle ear that conduct sound mechanically,
goal is to amplify sounds
Malleus (hammer) - answers- affixed to the tympanic membrane and acts on the incus
Stapes (stirrups) - answers- vibrates against oval window creating pressure waves
leading to transduction by hair cells on basilar membrane in cochlea
Inner ear - answers- functions: transduce sound into a neural signal
Cochlea - answers- snail-shaped structure of the inner ear that houses the hair cells
that transduce sound into a neural signal.
Tympanic canal - answers- one of three fluid-filled chambers in the cochlea. Vibrations
travel down it.
Middle canal - answers- one of three fluid-filled passages in the cochlea. In between
the tympanic and vestibular canals.
Vestibular canal - answers- one of the 3 fluid filled chambers of the cochlea. Vibrations
travel down it, but not the tympanic canal.
Reissner's membrane - answers- a thin sheath of tissue separating the vestibular and
middle canals in the cochlea.
Basilar membrane - answers- composed of fibers, like the base that contains the very
important cells involved in transduction. Contains the organ of corti.
Tectorial membrane - answers- a gelatinous flap, attached on one end, that extends
into the middle canal of the ear
Organ of corti - answers- center part of the cochlea, containing hair cells, canals, and
membranes
Sound stimulus - answers- the periodic variations in air pressure traveling out from the
source
Sound waves - answers- the waves of pressure changes that occur in the air as a
function of the vibration of a source
Medium of sound - answers- a material (solid, liquid, or gas, or combination of these)
through which a wave travels. In water, sound travels 4x faster than it does through air.
Pure tones - answers- a sound wave in which changes in air pressure follow a sine
wave pattern.
Amplitude - answers- the difference between the peak and the baseline of a wave
(height of wave).
Loudness - answers- perceptual experience of amplitude
Loud sounds can be dangerous - answers- prolonged contact to sounds over 85 db can
eventually cause hearing loss. Sounds louder than 120 db are painful. Sounds louder
than 130 db will generally result in immediate and permanent hearing loss.
Frequency - answers- the number of cycles in a sound stimulus that occur in 1 second
Pitch - answers- the subjective experience of frequency
What unit is used to measure sound amplitude? - answers- hertz (hz)
What is the hearing range of humans and how does it change with age? - answers- 20-
20,000 hz. As people age, hearing in the highest range dissipates. Lowest frequencies
tend to remain stable with age.
Outer ear - answers- pinna, external auditory canal, tympanic membrane (eardrum)
Pinna - answers- collects sound and funnels it into the auditory canal
External auditory canal - answers- conducts sound to the tympanic membrane,
amplifies specific sound frequencies.
Tympanic membrane (eardrum) - answers- thin elastic sheet.
Middle ear - answers- eustachian tube
Tensor tympani
Stapedius
Ossicles:
, Malleus (hammer)
Incus (anvil)
Stapes (stirrup)
Eustachian tube - answers- connects the middle ear with the pharynx. Equalizes air
pressure on either side of the eardrum
Tensor tympani and stapedius - answers- muscles attached to the malleus and stapes
Incus (anvil) - answers- the middle bone which is connected to the malleus and
hammer, passes vibrations onto the stapes.
Ossicles - answers- 3 small bones in the middle ear that conduct sound mechanically,
goal is to amplify sounds
Malleus (hammer) - answers- affixed to the tympanic membrane and acts on the incus
Stapes (stirrups) - answers- vibrates against oval window creating pressure waves
leading to transduction by hair cells on basilar membrane in cochlea
Inner ear - answers- functions: transduce sound into a neural signal
Cochlea - answers- snail-shaped structure of the inner ear that houses the hair cells
that transduce sound into a neural signal.
Tympanic canal - answers- one of three fluid-filled chambers in the cochlea. Vibrations
travel down it.
Middle canal - answers- one of three fluid-filled passages in the cochlea. In between
the tympanic and vestibular canals.
Vestibular canal - answers- one of the 3 fluid filled chambers of the cochlea. Vibrations
travel down it, but not the tympanic canal.
Reissner's membrane - answers- a thin sheath of tissue separating the vestibular and
middle canals in the cochlea.
Basilar membrane - answers- composed of fibers, like the base that contains the very
important cells involved in transduction. Contains the organ of corti.
Tectorial membrane - answers- a gelatinous flap, attached on one end, that extends
into the middle canal of the ear
Organ of corti - answers- center part of the cochlea, containing hair cells, canals, and
membranes
