Psych 1XX3 > Audition > Flashcards

Audition Flashcards

(45 cards)

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1
Q

As we age, our ability to hear higher frequency sounds…

A

decreases

  • Younger people hear higher frequencies
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2
Q

Human Auditory Frequency Range

Relative to other speices…

A

20 - 20 000 Hz

  • Frogs and birds have narrower range
  • Whales and dogs have wider range
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3
Q

Basilar Membrane

A
  • Contains hearing receptors
  • Sounds with different frequencies are processed
  • Varies in length across species: longer = wider frequency range
  • Translates sound vibrations into neural signals (hair cells!)
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4
Q

How are Sound Waves Transmitted?

A
  • Sudden burst of air or vibration of air from vocal chords
  • Air molecules move around the source of the sound
  • Condensed bands of air particles ripple away from sound source
  • Push the eardrum inwards (dense)and outwards (less dense)
  • Can be graphed as a sin wave
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5
Q

Physical Characteristics of Sound and their Physiological Property

A

Amplitude: Loudness
Wavelength: Pitch
Purity: Timbre

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6
Q

Sound Wave’s Amplitude

A

Loudness.

  • Greater amplitude results from sound waves correspond w/ vibrations of greater intensity
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7
Q

Sound Wave’s Frequency/Wavelength

A

Pitch.

  • Measured in Hz (cycles / sec)
  • High frequency = High pitch
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8
Q

Sound Wave’s Purity

A

Timbre.

  • Complexity of a sound – The reason why sounds sound different of different instruments
  • Most sounds we hear are complex that vary in frequency
  • Timbre refers to perceived complexity of a sound
  • Example: Guitar string plucked and vibrates as a whole (fundamental tone) but also vibrates at over tones
  • Fundamental tone + over tone (unique combos result in different timbre)
  • Over tones are higher pitched notes that are hidden
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9
Q

Three Section of the Ear

A

External

  • Changes in air pressure channelled through

Middle

  • Amplified

Inner

  • Detected as changes in fluid pressure
  • Finally converted into auditory neural impulses
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10
Q

External Ear Structures

A

Pinna
Auditory Canal
Eardrum (Tympanic Membrane)

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11
Q

Pinna

Location, Function, Structure

A

Location: External ear
Function: Collects sounds from the environment and directs them down the ear canal
Structure: Visible ear :)

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12
Q

Auditory Canal

Location, Function, Structure

A

Location: External ear
Function: Narrows as it moves towards ear drum, amplifying sound waves
Structure: Canal that connects pinna and ear drum

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13
Q

Ear Drum / Tympanic Membrane

Location, Function, Structure

A

Location: External ear; back wall of ear canal; Connects to middle ear8
Function: Vibrates at frequency of incoming sound wave
Structure: Thin membrane

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14
Q

Middle Ear Structures

A
  • Ossicles: Hammer, anvil, stirrup
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15
Q

Ossicles

Location, Function, Structure

A

Location: Middle ear; connected to tympanic membrane/ear drum
Function: Vibrates at frequency of eardrum, amplifiying the sound from eardrum to cochlea’s oval window
Structure: Three small bones (hammer, anvil, stirrup)

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16
Q

Inner Ear Structures

A
  • Oval window
  • Cochlea
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17
Q

Cochlea

Location, Function, Structure

A

Location: Inner ear
Function: Contains neural tissue necessary to convert changes in fluid motion to neural impulses
Structure: Fluid filled tube, 35mm long, coiled like snail shell

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18
Q

Oval window

Location, Function, Structure

A

Location: Inner ear, side of cochlea
Function:

  • Vibrates in response to the ossicles
  • Causes fluid inside the cochlea to displace… changing pressure
  • Round window bulges in and out in accomodation of the movement of fluid
  • Displaces the basilar membrane:

When pushed Inward: Waves in fluid inside cochlea pushes basilar membrane DOWN
When pushed Outward: Waves in fluid pushers basilar membrane UP

Structure: Small opening at the side of the cochlea

  • Base: beginning, near ossicles (high frequency)
  • Apex: end (low frequency)
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19
Q

Round Window

Study These Flashcards
A

Location: Inner ear, cochlea
Function: Bulges in and out accordingly in response to the change in pressure by the oval window (opposite direction of fluid by oval window)
Structure: liduhlee a round window

20
Q

Basilar Membrane

Location, Function, Structure

Study These Flashcards
A

Location: Inner ear, inside cochlea
Function:

1) Displaced down or up depending on oval window:

  • Inward: Waves in fluid inside cochlea pushes basilar membrane DOWN
  • Outward: Waves in fluid pushers basilar membrane UP
  • High frequency sound = Vibration in nearest window opening
  • Low frequency sound = Vibration in farthest/apex

2) Contains auditory receptors / hair cells

  • Hair cells move as the membrane moves in response to fluid
  • Movement converted into neural impulses

Structure: Varies in length depending on frequency range, runs length of cochlea like a carpet, widens towards the apex/end

21
Q

Hair Cell Activation in the Cochlea

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Release neurotransmitter, forming synapses with bipolar cells (axons make up cochlear nerve –branch of main auditory nerve)
  • Inner hair cells mainly contribute to this signal
  • EPSP’s in cochlear nerve fibres, transmitting signal to cochlear nucleus in hindbrain
22
Q

Inner vs Outer Hair Cells

Study These Flashcards
A

OUTER:
* More numerous
* Amplifies sound stimulus
* Thin, unmyelinated
* Fewer connections to the brain

INNER:
* Less numerous
* More connections to brain (Each communicates w/ 20 afferent fibres)
* Send pitch information
* Thick, myelinated

Hence, inner hair cells are primarily responsible for transmitting neural signals to the brain.

23
Q

Cochlear Nucleus

Study These Flashcards
A

Location: Hind brain

Function:

  • Recieves signal from cochlear nerve fibres following hair cell activation
  • Separate dorsal (location) and ventral (object recognition) streams
24
Q

Tonotopic Organization

Study These Flashcards
A

Spatial Organization of Auditory Pathway based on FREQUENCY/pitch on basilar membrane and A1

  • Frequency is coded along different regions on basilar membrane
  • Hair cells connected to regions on cochlear nerve such that neighbouring regions of hair cells remain together
  • Organization is maintained through auditory pathway (to A1!)
  • Example: Apex region of basilar membrane that responds to low frequency sound is represented at one end of A1
25
Auditory Localization
* Depends on inter-aural differences between ears * Inter-aural differences are a result from the fact that our ears are on different sides of our head
26
Inter-aural Cues
1) Difference in time it takes for sound to reach each ear * Changes depending on direction of incoming sound * Neurons in **superior olivary complex** respond to differences in timing of action potentials in each ear 2) Difference in intensity caused by sound shadow (head blocking sound waves) * Sound shadow diminishes intensity at distal ear * Is not seen for low frequency sounds (If wavelength of sound is larger than diameter of listener's head, sound diffracts around head) * Hence, used for high frequency sounds!
27
Superior Olivary Complex
* Neurons may respond to intensity differences from each ear * Inter-aural differences in arrival times * Located in th epons * Medial superior olive and lateral superior olive compute ITDs and IIDs respectively * Signal then moves to inferior colliculus
28
How Do We Localize Sounds That Are In Front or Behind the Head?
Head rotations * Changes in sound intensity reaching each ear helps localize sound
29
Pinna Cues
Required for accurately localizing the elevation of a sound source. * Called "ear prints" as everyones pinnae are different and are unique to the individual * Diffracts incoming sound waves to make significant changes to frequency content of sound that reaches inner ear (amplification + attenuation) * Required for accurately localizing the elevation of a sound source
30
Echolocation
Process by which a receiver emits sound pulses and analyzes the returning echo to form a perceptual image of objects in the environment. PROCESS: 1) High frequency sound wave emitted 2) Sound waves bounce off object and return to bats ear (echo!) 3) Brain analyzes difference in times and frequencies to determine characteristics of objects in its environment * Objects closer to bat returns echos sooner than farther * Objects that are moving will have echos that are moving * Objects that are textures will have echos that vary slightly in return time Allows bats to hunt and navigate successfully without vision.
31
Co-evolution of Bat Prey
Moths evolved a sharp sense of hearing designed for the detection of bat calls. * Their frequency range match w/ the ones used by bats * These moths have an increased chance of survival by detecting the bat and engaging in a defensive flight pattern
32
Co-evolution
The process by which the evolution and adaptation of traits of one species can directly affect the evolution of traits in another species. * Selection pressures of a predator = defensive trait in a prey = further selection pressures on predator = ....
33
Can Sound Travel W/O a Medium?
No. * Medium is required as sound waves travel by vibrating their medium
34
Are Sound Waves Transverse or Longitudinal?
Longitudinal. * Vibrates parallel to direction they are travelling
35
Organ of Corti
Location: Inner ear Function: Houses inner and outer hair cells * Stimulated by vibrations of the basilar membrane
36
Displacement of Hair Cells
* Positive ions from extracellular fluid enter body fo cell (similar to EPSP) * Loudness affects extent to which hair cell bends and cations entering cell * Enough positive ions enough to bring cell to threshold causing cell to depolarize and trigger an action potential
37
Absolute (Perfect) Pitch
* Ability to identify a pitch without reference to an external standard * Detecting precise locations pitch resonates on their basilar membrane
38
Relative Pitch
* Ability to tell if pitches are higher or lower than eachother * Detecting intervals (distance between notes)
39
Interaural Time Difference (ITD)
An auditory cue that results from a difference in time of arrival of a sound stimulus to each ear
40
Interaural Intensity Difference (IID)
An auditory cue that results from a difference in sound intensity between the two ears.
41
Azimuth
The horizontal angle with respect to the head (i.e. left or right, without elevation).
42
Binaural Cues
ITD and IID * Require inputs from both ears to extract info * Used to localize sound on the azimuth (horizontal angle w/ respoct to head... L or R)
43
Music's Effect on Perceptual Narrowing and Prosocial Behaviour
* Exposures to music scales can prevent perceptual narrowing and increase neuroplasticity * **Perceptual narrowing:** losing ability to identify phonemes * Musical scales from other cultures may all sound the same because we are not able to sense the nuance * **Prosocial behaviour:** Making music together makes others more connected * Music creates perception of cohesive group, which is threatening in war and other situations (evolution!)
44
Cocktail Party Effect
Filter out background noise, hear information that is relevant
45
Neuro-compensator Hearing Aid
* Amplifies sounds that need to be concentrated on and particular frequencies that need to be amplified * As opposed to standard hearing aids that amplify everything, these use AI to judge what will be amplified
Psych 1XX3
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