PSYC 230 UIUC Exam 2 - Questions With Detailed
Solutions
Sound stimulus Correct Answer - the periodic variations in air pressure
traveling out from the source
Sound waves Correct Answer - the waves of pressure changes that occur in
the air as a function of the vibration of a source
Medium of sound Correct Answer - 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 Correct Answer - A sound wave in which changes in air
pressure follow a sine wave pattern.
amplitude Correct Answer - the difference between the peak and the
baseline of a wave (height of wave).
loudness Correct Answer - Perceptual experience of amplitude
Loud sounds can be dangerous Correct Answer - 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 Correct Answer - The number of cycles in a sound stimulus that
occur in 1 second
Pitch Correct Answer - The subjective experience of frequency
what unit is used to measure sound amplitude? Correct Answer - Hertz
(Hz)
What is the hearing range of humans and how does it change with age?
Correct Answer - 20-20,000 Hz. As people age, hearing in the highest range
dissipates. Lowest frequencies tend to remain stable with age.
,Outer ear Correct Answer - Pinna, external auditory canal, tympanic
membrane (eardrum)
Pinna Correct Answer - Collects sound and funnels it into the auditory
canal
External auditory canal Correct Answer - conducts sound to the tympanic
membrane, amplifies specific sound frequencies.
Tympanic membrane (eardrum) Correct Answer - Thin elastic sheet.
Middle ear Correct Answer - Eustachian tube
Tensor tympani
Stapedius
Ossicles:
Malleus (hammer)
Incus (anvil)
Stapes (stirrup)
Eustachian tube Correct Answer - Connects the middle ear with the
pharynx. Equalizes air pressure on either side of the eardrum
Tensor tympani and Stapedius Correct Answer - Muscles attached to the
malleus and stapes
Incus (anvil) Correct Answer - The middle bone which is connected to the
malleus and hammer, passes vibrations onto the stapes.
Ossicles Correct Answer - 3 small bones in the middle ear that conduct
sound mechanically, goal is to amplify sounds
Malleus (hammer) Correct Answer - Affixed to the tympanic membrane
and acts on the incus
Stapes (stirrups) Correct Answer - Vibrates against oval window creating
pressure waves leading to transduction by hair cells on basilar membrane in
cochlea
Inner ear Correct Answer - functions: transduce sound into a neural signal
, Cochlea Correct Answer - Snail-shaped structure of the inner ear that
houses the hair cells that transduce sound into a neural signal.
Tympanic canal Correct Answer - One of three fluid-filled chambers in the
cochlea. Vibrations travel down it.
Middle canal Correct Answer - One of three fluid-filled passages in the
cochlea. In between the tympanic and vestibular canals.
Vestibular canal Correct Answer - One of the 3 fluid filled chambers of the
Cochlea. Vibrations travel down it, but not the tympanic canal.
Reissner's membrane Correct Answer - A thin sheath of tissue separating
the vestibular and middle canals in the cochlea.
Basilar membrane Correct Answer - Composed of fibers, like the base that
contains the very important cells involved in transduction. Contains the organ
of corti.
Tectorial membrane Correct Answer - a gelatinous flap, attached on one
end, that extends into the middle canal of the ear
Organ of corti Correct Answer - Center part of the cochlea, containing hair
cells, canals, and membranes
Hair cells Correct Answer - receptor cells for hearing found in the cochlea
Stereocilia Correct Answer - hairlike extensions on the tips of hair cells in
the cochlea that initiate the release of neurotransmitters when they are flexed
Inner hair cells Correct Answer - Convey almost all info about sound
waves to the brain
Outer hair cells Correct Answer - Receive information from the brain
(using efferent fibers). When they're stiffer, can help surpress noise and when
less stiff, can help tune to a given frequency.
Solutions
Sound stimulus Correct Answer - the periodic variations in air pressure
traveling out from the source
Sound waves Correct Answer - the waves of pressure changes that occur in
the air as a function of the vibration of a source
Medium of sound Correct Answer - 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 Correct Answer - A sound wave in which changes in air
pressure follow a sine wave pattern.
amplitude Correct Answer - the difference between the peak and the
baseline of a wave (height of wave).
loudness Correct Answer - Perceptual experience of amplitude
Loud sounds can be dangerous Correct Answer - 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 Correct Answer - The number of cycles in a sound stimulus that
occur in 1 second
Pitch Correct Answer - The subjective experience of frequency
what unit is used to measure sound amplitude? Correct Answer - Hertz
(Hz)
What is the hearing range of humans and how does it change with age?
Correct Answer - 20-20,000 Hz. As people age, hearing in the highest range
dissipates. Lowest frequencies tend to remain stable with age.
,Outer ear Correct Answer - Pinna, external auditory canal, tympanic
membrane (eardrum)
Pinna Correct Answer - Collects sound and funnels it into the auditory
canal
External auditory canal Correct Answer - conducts sound to the tympanic
membrane, amplifies specific sound frequencies.
Tympanic membrane (eardrum) Correct Answer - Thin elastic sheet.
Middle ear Correct Answer - Eustachian tube
Tensor tympani
Stapedius
Ossicles:
Malleus (hammer)
Incus (anvil)
Stapes (stirrup)
Eustachian tube Correct Answer - Connects the middle ear with the
pharynx. Equalizes air pressure on either side of the eardrum
Tensor tympani and Stapedius Correct Answer - Muscles attached to the
malleus and stapes
Incus (anvil) Correct Answer - The middle bone which is connected to the
malleus and hammer, passes vibrations onto the stapes.
Ossicles Correct Answer - 3 small bones in the middle ear that conduct
sound mechanically, goal is to amplify sounds
Malleus (hammer) Correct Answer - Affixed to the tympanic membrane
and acts on the incus
Stapes (stirrups) Correct Answer - Vibrates against oval window creating
pressure waves leading to transduction by hair cells on basilar membrane in
cochlea
Inner ear Correct Answer - functions: transduce sound into a neural signal
, Cochlea Correct Answer - Snail-shaped structure of the inner ear that
houses the hair cells that transduce sound into a neural signal.
Tympanic canal Correct Answer - One of three fluid-filled chambers in the
cochlea. Vibrations travel down it.
Middle canal Correct Answer - One of three fluid-filled passages in the
cochlea. In between the tympanic and vestibular canals.
Vestibular canal Correct Answer - One of the 3 fluid filled chambers of the
Cochlea. Vibrations travel down it, but not the tympanic canal.
Reissner's membrane Correct Answer - A thin sheath of tissue separating
the vestibular and middle canals in the cochlea.
Basilar membrane Correct Answer - Composed of fibers, like the base that
contains the very important cells involved in transduction. Contains the organ
of corti.
Tectorial membrane Correct Answer - a gelatinous flap, attached on one
end, that extends into the middle canal of the ear
Organ of corti Correct Answer - Center part of the cochlea, containing hair
cells, canals, and membranes
Hair cells Correct Answer - receptor cells for hearing found in the cochlea
Stereocilia Correct Answer - hairlike extensions on the tips of hair cells in
the cochlea that initiate the release of neurotransmitters when they are flexed
Inner hair cells Correct Answer - Convey almost all info about sound
waves to the brain
Outer hair cells Correct Answer - Receive information from the brain
(using efferent fibers). When they're stiffer, can help surpress noise and when
less stiff, can help tune to a given frequency.
