Question 1

The theory of hearing that views the basilar membrane as being like a drumhead is

Accepted Answer

Frequency theory suggests that the basilar membrane vibrates in synchrony with sound waves, similar to how a drumhead vibrates, and this vibration is translated into neural impulses.

Question 2

The retina is to the eye as the

Accepted Answer

The retina in the eye is a layer of tissue at the back of the eye that senses light and sends images to the brain, similar to how the cochlea in the ear converts sound waves into nerve impulses that are sent to the brain.

Question 3

You can detect the difference between a musical note played on a trumpet and the same note played on a trombone because the two instruments have a different

Accepted Answer

Timbre refers to the unique sound qualities of different instruments, even when they are playing the same note at the same pitch and volume. The timbre of a trumpet is different from the timbre of a trombone, which allows us to distinguish the two instruments even when they are playing the same note. Therefore, option A) is the correct answer.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes how we hear according to place theory?

Accepted Answer

Place theory suggests that different sound frequencies vibrate different portions of the basilar membrane, which in turn leads to the perception of different pitches. The specific location on the membrane that vibrates helps the brain determine the pitch of a sound.

Question 5

The correct order that auditory information travels as sounds enter the ear is from the auditory canal to

Accepted Answer

The correct order of auditory information traveling as sounds enter the ear is from the eardrum to the ossicles, then to the oval window and finally to the cochlea where it is transformed into neural signals.

Question 6

Sensitivity to _________ sounds declines most as adults age.

Accepted Answer

As people age, they tend to experience presbycusis or age-related hearing loss, whereby the inner ear structures that detect high-frequency sounds become damaged and eventually die off, making it difficult to distinguish certain sounds, particularly those in the higher-frequency range.

Question 7

If Professor Trong were to argue that we discriminate different pitches because sound waves of different frequency displace different regions on the basilar membrane,which theory of auditory perception would Dr.Trong be arguing?

Accepted Answer

The place theory of auditory perception proposes that we discriminate different pitches because different sound frequencies create different patterns of vibration along the basilar membrane, leading to the activation of specific hair cells at different locations on the membrane. Professor Trong's argument that discrimination of pitches is based on different regions of displacement on the basilar membrane is consistent with the place theory.

Question 8

Given our present knowledge concerning pitch perception,which theory seems more accurate?

Accepted Answer

Both the frequency and place theory are partly correct as they explain different aspects of pitch perception; frequency theory explains low-frequency sounds, while place theory explains high-frequency sounds.

Question 9

The structure of the ear that conducts sound waves to the middle ear is the

Accepted Answer

The auditory canal is the structure of the ear that conducts sound waves to the middle ear.

Question 10

The structure of the ear that transduces sound vibrations into nerve impulses is the

Accepted Answer

The cochlea is the structure of the ear that transduces sound vibrations into nerve impulses. It is a fluid-filled spiral-shaped structure that contains hair cells, which convert sound waves into electrical signals that are sent to the brain.

The other options are all structures in the ear, but they do not play a direct role in transducing sound vibrations into nerve impulses. The oval window and stirrup are both part of the middle ear and are involved in transferring vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. The temporal lobe is a region of the brain that is involved in processing auditory information, but it does not transduce sound waves into nerve impulses.

Question 11

The actual,direct receptors for hearing are the

Accepted Answer

Hair cells are the actual, direct receptors for hearing. They are located in the cochlea of the inner ear and are responsible for converting sound waves into neural signals that can be perceived by the brain. The ossicles and basilar cells are important components of the auditory system, but they do not directly serve as receptors for hearing.

Question 12

The maximum firing rate for individual neurons is 1000 neural impulses per second.This biological limitation would make it difficult for

Accepted Answer

Frequency theory proposes that pitch perception is determined by the frequency of neural impulses traveling up the auditory nerve to the brain. However, since the maximum firing rate for individual neurons is 1000 neural impulses per second, frequency theory cannot fully explain pitch perception for sounds with frequencies higher than 1000 Hz.

Question 13

Which theory of hearing states that the perception of pitch depends on the rate at which the entire basilar membrane vibrates?

Accepted Answer

Frequency theory suggests that the perception of pitch is related to the rate at which the entire basilar membrane vibrates, with the frequency of the sound wave matching the frequency of the neural impulses.

Question 14

The fluid-filled tunnel that contains the receptors for hearing is the

Accepted Answer

The cochlea is a fluid-filled tunnel in the inner ear that contains the receptors for hearing. The basilar membrane, located within the cochlea, vibrates in response to sound waves and stimulates the hair cells that are responsible for translating sound into neural impulses. The ossicles are three small bones in the middle ear that help to transmit vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. The middle ear is the chamber between the eardrum and the inner ear that contains the ossicles.

Question 15

Imagine that human neurons reach a maximum firing rate of 5000 impulses per second,rather than only 1000 impulses per second.Using the volley principle,this would mean that

Accepted Answer

The volley principle states that groups of neurons can work together to fire in a pattern that produces a higher frequency than any individual neuron could produce on its own. If human neurons could reach a maximum firing rate of 5000 impulses per second, then the frequency theory could explain the full range of human pitch perception. This is because the frequency theory proposes that pitch perception is determined by the frequency of the neural impulses traveling up the auditory nerve, and if neurons can fire at a higher rate, then they can encode higher frequencies of sound. Place theory, on the other hand, proposes that pitch perception is determined by the location along the basilar membrane where the hair cells are stimulated, and would not be able to fully explain the full range of human pitch perception without taking the volley principle into account.

Question 16

If two sounds vary in frequency they are perceived as differing in

Accepted Answer

When two sounds have different frequencies, they are typically perceived as having different pitches. Pitch is the perceptual quality of sound that allows us to order sounds on a scale from low to high. Loudness refers to the subjective experience of volume, or how intense a sound is. Decibels are a unit of measurement for sound intensity, and timbre refers to the quality or tone of a sound.

Question 17

The function of the middle ear is to

Accepted Answer

The middle ear contains the three smallest bones in the body, which work together to amplify sound waves and transmit them to the inner ear. This helps to make sounds louder and clearer.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a structure of the inner ear?

Accepted Answer

The eardrum is not part of the inner ear. It is a structure of the middle ear, which separates the outer and middle ear.

Question 19

Humans can hear sounds ranging in frequency from

Accepted Answer

Humans can hear sounds ranging in frequency from 20-20,000 Hz. The other answer choices are incorrect as they either refer to decibel levels or a narrow range of frequency.

Question 20

Imagine that the basilar membrane in the human ear were longer.Based on place theory,you might expect that humans would be able to

Accepted Answer

According to place theory, the longer the basilar membrane, the wider the range of frequencies that can be detected.

Quiz 4: Sensation and Perception