Changes in selective attention that occur during the cocktail party effect could involve changes in the:
A)Permeability of sodium ions in outer hair cells
B)Permeability of sodium ions in inner hair cells
C)Length of outer hair cells and subsequent changes in the rigidity of the organ of Corti
D)Length of inner hair cells and subsequent changes in the rigidity of the organ of Corti

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The cocktail party effect involves the ability to focus one's auditory attention on a particular stimulus while filtering out a range of other stimuli, much like when trying to listen to a single conversation in a noisy room. This effect is thought to involve changes in the outer hair cells, which can change length and thus alter the mechanical properties of the cochlea's organ of Corti, helping to selectively enhance the perception of certain sounds.

Changes in Selective Attention That Occur During the Cocktail Party