Deck 10: How Do We Hear, Speak, and Make Music 

Question 1

Frequency of sound waves roughly corresponds to our perception of:

A)timbre.
B)complexity.
C)loudness.
D)pitch.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following does NOT describe tinnitus?

A)Tinnitus can be intermittent or continuous.
B)Tinnitus is a ringing in the ears.
C)There are two categories of tinnitus.
D)Objective tinnitus is the more common form of tinnitus.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of the following species is said to have a narrow range of auditory frequency perception?

A)birds
B)whales
C)humans
D)bats

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Most people consider sounds that are louder than _____ to be loud.

A)50 dB
B)90 dB
C)100 dB
D)70 dB

Question 5

Amplitude is roughly equivalent to:

A)frequency.
B)pitch.
C)loudness.
D)timbre.

Question 6

Rock musicians frequently show loss of sensitivity to sound in the:

A)4000 Hz range.
B)5000 Hz range.
C)6000 Hz range.
D)7000 Hz range.

Question 7

Research into the evolution of music suggests that:

A)all singing primates are monogamous.
B)music may be related to sexual behavior.
C)music is processed by the right temporal lobe.
D)All of the answers are correct.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT a physical attribute of sound wave energy?

A)rarefication
B)frequency
C)amplitude
D)complexity

Question 9

If we increase the amount of air that is compacted in each sound wave but keep the same number of waves, then we have changed the:

A)timbre.
B)pitch.
C)amplitude.
D)frequency.

Question 10

Exposure to sounds louder than _____ is likely to cause hearing damage.

A)50 dB
B)70 dB
C)120 dB
D)100 dB

Question 11

Sound waves are created by:

A)the compression of air molecules.
B)the rarefaction of air molecules.
C)undulating displacement of air molecules caused by pressure changes.
D)None of the answers are correct.

Question 12

Another word for sound quality or complexity is:

A)pitch.
B)timbre.
C)loudness.
D)prosody.

Question 13

Normal speech sounds are around:

A)30 dB.
B)40 dB.
C)50 dB.
D)60 dB.

Question 14

Twenty-five cycles per second is equivalent to:

A)5 Hz.
B)25 Hz.
C)50 Hz.
D)100 Hz.

Question 15

Spoken language or speech is also known as _____, while perceiving sounds is referred to as _____.

A)audition; vocalization
B)vocalization; audition
C)audition; hearing
D)vocalization; echolocation

Question 16

Which of the following statements correctly describes language?

A)Language always involves auditory input and motor output.
B)Language is the use of complex systems of communication and includes syntax.
C)Language is the use of complex systems of communication and always involves auditory, visual, and motor inputs and outputs.
D)Vocalization and audition are necessary to understand language.

Question 17

Decibels are a measure of:

A)sound amplitude.
B)pitch.
C)frequency.
D)timbre.

Question 18

The range for the perception of sound in humans is:

A)10 to 15,000 Hz.
B)20 to 20,000 Hz.
C)30 to 25,000 Hz.
D)20 to 30,000 Hz.

Question 19

Neanderthals:

A)did not bury their dead with artifacts.
B)were assumed to have complex language.
C)left evidence that they may have had musical instruments.
D)did not use tools.

Question 20

Sound travels at a speed of:

A)700 feet/second.
B)1100 feet/second.
C)1000 feet/second.
D)800 feet/second.

Question 21

Complex tones are:

A)low-frequency tones.
B)high-frequency tones.
C)a combination of frequencies.
D)half tones.

Question 22

The threshold of human hearing allows us to detect the displacement of air molecules of roughly:

A)10 picometers.
B)1 picometer.
C)20 picometers.
D)100 picometers.

Question 23

_____ are examples of complex tones.

A)Notes played by musical instruments
B)Bird songs
C)Human speech sounds
D)All of the answers are correct.

Question 24

Pure tones are sounds:

A)that are not amplified.
B)with a single frequency.
C)that have a unique timbre.
D)with a pitch between 5000 and 10,000 Hz.

Question 25

Prosody means the same as:

A)tone of voice.
B)speech amplitude.
C)speed of language.
D)frequency.

Question 26

_____ tinnitus may be the result of actual sound in the ear, while _____ tinnitus is a condition of hearing a sound in the absence of an external auditory stimulus.

A)Subjective; objective
B)Objective; subjective
C)Positive; negative
D)Auditory; deaf

Question 27

It is likely that speech and music perception are located in the:

A)frontal lobes.
B)parietal lobes.
C)temporal lobes.
D)frontal and temporal lobes.

Question 28

Nonspeech and nonmusical noise are perceived as a buzz at a rate of about:

A)3 segments per second.
B)5 segments per second.
C)7 segments per second.
D)10 segments per second.

Question 29

Overtones are:

A)low-frequency tones.
B)half increments of the fundamental frequency.
C)multiples of the fundamental frequency.
D)restricted only to speech sounds.

Question 30

In order to break down a complex tone into its constituent pure tones, perform a:

A)Fourier analysis.
B)regression analysis.
C)pattern analysis.
D)spectral analysis.

Question 31

The correct order of the middle ear bones from nearest to the eardrum to nearest the oval window is:

A)stirrup, anvil, hammer.
B)anvil, hammer, stirrup.
C)hammer, stirrup, anvil.
D)hammer, anvil, stirrup.

Question 32

Why are we able to hear various sounds simultaneously?

A)The right and left ears pick up sounds with different frequencies.
B)Different sound waves stimulate different neurons.
C)The brain can identify sounds at varying volumes at the same time, though not at varying pitches.
D)Different sound waves activate different auditory hormones.

Question 33

Susan is able to distinguish between a French horn and a trombone even when they are playing the same note at the same loudness. This is accomplished through using the differences in:

A)amplitude.
B)pitch.
C)frequency.
D)timbre.

Question 34

What are the subjective properties of music?

A)timbre, quality, pitch
B)loudness, timbre, quality
C)loudness, timbre, pitch
D)frequency, amplitude, pitch

Question 35

The purpose of the pinna is to:

A)transduce sound waves into neural firing.
B)protect the inner ear.
C)funnel sound waves into the ear canal.
D)vibrate in response to sound waves.

Question 36

We are capable of understanding speech at rates of _____ segments per second.

A)30
B)40
C)50
D)60

Question 37

Frequency is described in:

A)decibels.
B)hertz.
C)pitch.
D)segments per second.

Question 38

Aperiodic tones are considered to be:

A)noise.
B)pure tones.
C)complex tones.
D)overtones.

Question 39

Timbre refers to:

A)our perception of loudness.
B)our perception of pitch.
C)a sound's perceived uniqueness.
D)None of the answers are correct.

Question 40

The rate at which a complex waveform repeats is called its:

A)resonant frequency.
B)Fourier frequency.
C)fundamental frequency.
D)repetition frequency.

Question 41

The amount of sound wave displacement along the basilar membrane varies according to the _____ of the sound wave.

A)frequency
B)timbre
C)amplitude
D)duration

Question 42

What is the name for the inner ear structure that contains the auditory receptor cells?

A)the medial geniculate nucleus
B)the cochlea
C)the primary auditory core
D)Wernicke's area

Question 43

Movement of hair-cell cilia in a direction that results in an opening of calcium channels and increase in neurotransmitter release is called

A)hyperpolarization.
B)polarization.
C)depolarization.
D)hypopolarization.

Question 44

_____ is (are) often used to measure the functionality of the inner ear in newborn infants.

A)Frequency analysis
B)Otoacoustic emissions
C)Fourier analysis
D)Auditory evoked potentials

Question 45

Otoacoustic emissions:

A)are a sign of hearing loss.
B)play no direct role in hearing.
C)can only be measured with conventional hearing tests.
D)can be one of three types.

Question 46

The _____ at the tips of inner and outer hair cells in the basilar membrane are stimulated by waves in the cochlear fluid.

A)ossicles
B)cilia
C)bipolar cells
D)cochlear nuclei

Question 47

High-frequency sound waves cause peak bending of the basilar membrane near the _____, while low-frequency sound waves cause peak bending near the _____.

A)apex; base
B)base; apex
C)middle; base
D)base; middle

Question 48

The thalamic relay nucleus for the auditory system is the:

A)pulvinar nucleus.
B)lateral geniculate nucleus.
C)medial geniculate nucleus.
D)ventrolateral nucleus.

Question 49

Which of the following structures is NOT part of the organ of Corti?

A)inner hair cells
B)outer hair cells
C)eardrum
D)basilar membrane

Question 50

Damage to the left auditory cortex would lead to:

A)deafness in the left ear.
B)deafness in the right ear.
C)deafness in both ears.
D)None of the answers are correct.

Question 51

The axons of _____ form the auditory nerve.

A)inner hair cells
B)outer hair cells
C)bipolar cells
D)auditory interneurons

Question 52

Which of the following sequences is the correct auditory route to the cortex?

A)cochlear nucleus, olivary complex, inferior colliculus, medial geniculate, auditory cortex
B)cochlear nucleus, inferior colliculus, olivary complex, medial geniculate, auditory cortex
C)cochlear nucleus, olivary complex, medial geniculate, inferior colliculus, auditory cortex
D)cochlear nucleus, medial geniculate, olivary complex, inferior colliculus, auditory cortex

Question 53

Inputs from the _____ are sent to primary auditory cortex (A1).

A)dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus
B)ventral lateral geniculate nucleus
C)ventral medial geniculate nucleus
D)dorsal medial geniculate nucleus

Question 54

In the human cochlea, there are approximately _____ inner hair cells.

A)2000
B)3500
C)12,000
D)15,500

Question 55

Movement of hair-cell cilia in a direction that results in the decrease of neurotransmitter release is called:

A)hyperpolarization.
B)polarization.
C)depolarization.
D)hypopolarization.

Question 56

Bipolar cells receive input from:

A)many hair cells.
B)many ganglion cells.
C)one hair cell.
D)one ganglion cell.

Question 57

The stirrup sits against the:

A)eardrum.
B)oval window.
C)round window.
D)cochlea.

Question 58

Which of the following frequencies is likely to be coded closest to the apex of the cochlea?

A)15,000 Hz
B)18,000 Hz
C)300 Hz
D)1000 Hz

Question 59

Which of the following does NOT correctly describe inner hair cells?

A)Inner hair cells can be destroyed by disease, infection, drugs, or exposure to intense sound waves.
B)Animals without inner hair cells are effectively deaf.
C)Inner hair cells regenerate in mammals.
D)Inner hair cells are tipped with cilia.

Question 60

The ability to identify and locate objects by sound is referred to as:

A)otoacoustics.
B)echolocation.
C)tinnitus.
D)aphasia.

Question 61

Rachael hears what sounds like a car alarm sounding off. In order for her to localize this high-frequency continuous sound, her auditory system will take advantage of:

A)differences in the arrival times of the sound between the two ears.
B)differences in the elevation of the sound between the two ears.
C)differences in the intensity of the sound arriving at both ears.
D)All of the answers are correct.

Question 62

The computation for detecting the location of a sound by comparing the time difference between the two ears occurs at the:

A)auditory cortex.
B)superior olivary complex.
C)medial geniculate.
D)inferior colliculus.

Question 63

Where are electronic devices implanted to allow people with hearing loss to hear?

A)the brain
B)the outer ear
C)the inner ear
D)the primary auditory cortex

Question 64

The human A1 auditory area is found in:

A)the planum temporale.
B)Wernicke's area.
C)Broca's area.
D)Heschl's gyrus.

Question 65

Which of the following is NOT evidence supporting Chomsky's theory about language?

A)Language is universal in human populations.
B)Children learn language early in life and without effort.
C)Technology complexity influences the complexity of language.
D)Many languages share basic structural elements.

Question 66

_____ has a special role in processing music.

A)The left planum temporale
B)The right planum temporale
C)Heschl's gyrus in the left hemisphere
D)Heschl's gyrus in the right hemisphere

Question 67

Damage to the _____ can cause problems with both language and taste perception.

A)left planum temporale
B)insula
C)left Wernicke's area
D)right parietal cortex

Question 68

The location of function mainly on one side of the brain is referred to as:

A)specification.
B)autolocation.
C)lateralization.
D)echolocation.

Question 69

Noam Chomsky was the first linguist to argue that:

A)language is not affected by genetics.
B)all languages share common structural characteristics.
C)each language has a unique structure.
D)language affects culture.

Question 70

Research on the tuning curves of individual inner hair cells indicates that:

A)each hair cell responds only to a single frequency.
B)each hair cell responds to all possible frequencies in the human hearing range.
C)each hair cell responds maximally to a single frequency but also responds somewhat to nearby frequencies.
D)only outer hair cells respond to different frequencies.

Question 71

Studies with humans have shown that if two sounds presented through earphones are separated by as little as _____ microseconds, the sound will be perceived as being on the side of the leading ear.

A)5
B)10
C)15
D)20

Question 72

Increases in loudness are coded by:

A)the activation of more hair cells.
B)the activation of more bipolar cells.
C)an increased rate of firing in bipolar cells.
D)activation of loudness detectors in the medial geniculate nucleus.

Question 73

In the world today, there are approximately _____ languages.

A)1000-3000
B)3000-5000
C)5000-7000
D)10,000-15,000

Question 74

The left planum temporale is generally larger in:

A)left-handed individuals.
B)right-handed individuals.
C)bilingual speakers.
D)females.

Question 75

Barn owls' ears are at different heights on the left and right sides of their head. This unique feature helps them better locate sounds that are:

A)to the left or right.
B)above or below.
C)in front or behind.
D)All of the answers are correct.

Question 76

Why is studying individual auditory neurons in humans so difficult?

A)The technology does not yet exist to do so.
B)It is too expensive to carry out large-scale studies.
C)There is no noninvasive way to do so.
D)It is impossible to study individual neurons.

Question 77

Cochlear implants are:

A)a cure for deafness.
B)a hearing substitute.
C)able to replicate the experience of natural hearing.
D)more effective the longer a person has been deaf.

Question 78

A study by Thaler and colleagues examined the brain regions involved in human echolocation by blind individuals. Their study found that echolocation in blind individuals seemed to rely on activation in:

A)Broca's area.
B)the ventral auditory pathway.
C)the primary auditory cortex.
D)the visual cortex.

Question 79

The planum temporale is:

A)the same as Heschl's gyrus.
B)smaller on the left than on the right in right-handed people.
C)also known as Wernicke's area on the left side.
D)All of the answers are correct.

Question 80

Gerald is walking through the forest at night, and he hears what sounds like an animal walking somewhere to his left. Gerald localized the source of this sound using _____, which relies on neurons in the _____.

A)differences in arrival time between the two ears; medial superior olive
B)differences in loudness between the two ears; medial superior olive
C)differences in arrival time between the two ears; lateral superior olive
D)differences in loudness between the two ears; lateral superior olive