the periodic variations in air pressure traveling out from
Sound stimulus
the source
the waves of pressure changes that occur in the air as a
Sound waves
function of the vibration of a source
A material (solid, liquid, or gas, or combination of these)
Medium of sound through which a wave travels. In water, sound travels 4x
faster than it does through air.
A sound wave in which changes in air pressure follow a
pure tones
sine wave pattern.
the ditterence between the peak and the baseline of a
amplitude
wave (height of wave).
loudness Perceptual experience of amplitude
Prolonged contact to sounds over 85 dB can eventual-
ly cause hearing loss. Sounds louder than 120 dB are
Loud sounds can be dangerous
painful. Sounds louder than 130 dB will generally result
in immediate and permanent hearing loss.
The number of cycles in a sound stimulus that occur in 1
Frequency
second
Pitch The subjective experience of frequency
what unit is used to measure sound amplitude? Hertz (Hz)
20-20,000 Hz. As people age, hearing in the highest range
What is the hearing range of humans and how does it
dissipates. Lowest frequencies tend to remain stable with
change with age?
age.
Pinna, external auditory canal, tympanic membrane
Outer ear
(eardrum)
Pinna Collects sound and funnels it into the auditory canal
External auditory canal
,PSYC 230 UIUC Exam #2 Test Questions and Answers Rated A
conducts sound to the tympanic membrane, amplifies
specific sound frequencies.
Tympanic membrane (eardrum) Thin elastic sheet.
Eustachian tube
Tensor tympani
Stapedius
Middle ear Ossicles:
Malleus (hammer)
Incus (anvil)
Stapes (stirrup)
Connects the middle ear with the pharynx. Equalizes air
Eustachian tube
pressure on either side of the eardrum
Tensor tympani and Stapedius Muscles attached to the malleus and stapes
The middle bone which is connected to the malleus and
Incus (anvil)
hammer, passes vibrations onto the stapes.
3 small bones in the middle ear that conduct sound me-
Ossicles
chanically, goal is to amplify sounds
Malleus (hammer) Aflxed to the tympanic membrane and acts on the incus
Vibrates against oval window creating pressure waves
Stapes (stirrups) leading to transduction by hair cells on basilar membrane
in cochlea
Inner ear functions: transduce sound into a neural signal
Snail-shaped structure of the inner ear that houses the
Cochlea
hair cells that transduce sound into a neural signal.
One of three fluid-filled chambers in the cochlea. Vibra-
Tympanic canal
tions travel down it.
One of three fluid-filled passages in the cochlea. In be-
Middle canal
tween the tympanic and vestibular canals.
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One of the 3 fluid filled chambers of the Cochlea. Vibra-
Vestibular canal
tions travel down it, but not the tympanic canal.
A thin sheath of tissue separating the vestibular and mid-
Reissner's membrane
dle canals in the cochlea.
Composed of fibers, like the base that contains the very
Basilar membrane important cells involved in transduction. Contains the or-
gan of corti.
a gelatinous flap, attached on one end, that extends into
Tectorial membrane
the middle canal of the ear
Center part of the cochlea, containing hair cells, canals,
Organ of corti
and membranes
Hair cells receptor cells for hearing found in the cochlea
hairlike extensions on the tips of hair cells in the cochlea
Stereocilia that initiate the release of neurotransmitters when they are
flexed
Inner hair cells Convey almost all info about sound waves to the brain
Receive information from the brain (using etterent fibers).
Outer hair cells When they're stitter, can help surpress noise and when
less stitt, can help tune to a given frequency.
Small displacements along the cochlea, the tectorial mem-
Small amplitude sounds brane will shear across the organ of corti less forcefully,
and hair cells will bend to a smaller degree.
Large displacements along the cochlea. Tectorial mem-
Large amplitude sounds brane will shear across the organ of corti more forcefully,
hair cells will bend to a large degree.
Frequency is coded along the basilar membrane through
How and where is frequency coded?
ditterent amounts of displacement
Place code theory