Deck 7: Hearing, Balance, Taste, and Smell

Question 1

The wide variety of ear shapes and sizes seen in mammals can be attributed to

A) a common ancestor.
B) common ecological niches.
C) climate.
D) adaptations to different environmental challenges.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The tensor tympani and stapedius muscles are essential for

A) sound localization.
B) intensifying auditory stimuli.
C) adjusting the tension of the round window to incoming sounds.
D) protecting the auditory system from intense sounds.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The _______ ear contains the tiny chain of bones that facilitate sound conduction.

A) inner
B) middle
C) external
D) pinna

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which structure is not part of the external or middle ear?

A) Stapedius muscle
B) Pinna
C) Organ of Corti
D) Tympanic membrane

Question 5

The organ of Corti includes all the following except

A) a framework of supporting cells.
B) hair cells.
C) the stapedius muscle.
D) the terminations of the auditory nerve fibers.

Question 6

The organ of Corti lies within the

A) vestibular canal.
B) tympanic canal.
C) tectorial duct.
D) middle canal.

Question 7

The stereocilia of the hair cells contact the

A) inner hair cells.
B) basilar membrane.
C) auditory nerve fibers.
D) tectorial membrane.

Question 8

In the organ of Corti, which structure is located between the basilar membrane and the tectorial membrane?

A) Tensor tympani
B) Stapedius muscle
C) Stapes
D) Hair cells

Question 9

The canals of the cochlea are filled with _______; thus, sound is carried in the form of _______.

A) hair cells; mechanical motion
B) air; wind
C) fluid; waves
D) ampullae; waves

Question 10

The swaying of stereocilia in response to sound waves results in an influx of _______ at the base of the hair cell, leading to neurotransmitter release.

A) Na⁺
B) K⁺
C) Cl^-
D) Ca²⁺

Question 11

Most auditory nerve fibers carry messages _______ hair cells.

A) to the inner
B) to the outer
C) from the inner
D) from the outer

Question 12

Which of the following does not describe a type of neural connection with hair cells?

A) IHC afferents, which convey messages from the hair cells to the brain, give rise to the perception of sound.
B) OHC afferents, which convey messages from the hair cells to the brain, convey information to the brain about the perception of sounds coming specifically from the basilar membrane.
C) IHC efferents, which lead from the brain to the hair cells, provide a way for the brain to control afferent responsiveness.
D) OHC efferents, which lead from the brain to the OHCs, transmit commands to the OHCs to change their length, thereby controlling the stiffness of regions of the basilar membrane.

Question 13

The mechanical responses of the OHCs appear to act as a cochlear

A) rectifier.
B) attenuator.
C) tuner.
D) bandpass filter.

Question 14

Inner hair cells release the neurotransmitter _______, and outer hair cells release the neurotransmitter _______.

A) glutamate; ACh
B) ACh; GABA
C) glutamate; GABA
D) GABA; glutamate

Question 15

Fibers of the _______ nerve contact the bases of hair cells.

A) facial
B) trochlear
C) accessory
D) vestibulocochlear

Question 16

Most information about auditory stimuli is conveyed from inner hair cells to the brain by the transmitter

A) acetylcholine.
B) glutamate.
C) GABA.
D) aspartate.

Question 17

The nerve fibers that contact the inner hair cells make up about _______% of the afferent fibers in the auditory nerve.

A) 10
B) 25
C) 65
D) 95

Question 18

The _______ are the regions of the auditory pathway of the human brain in which information from both ears is first integrated.

A) superior colliculi
B) inferior colliculi
C) superior olivary nuclei
D) medial geniculate nuclei

Question 19

Brain scans of an individual listening to words is likely to show activation of

A) the primary auditory area.
B) portions of the thalamus.
C) portions of the cerebellum.
D) All the above

Question 20

Speech, in comparison to noise, activates

A) the same brain regions.
B) more extensive brain regions.
C) smaller brain regions.
D) only the left hemisphere.

Question 21

The basic frequency is called the _______, and multiples of the basic frequency are called _______.

A) amplitude; harmonics
B) fundamental; pure tones
C) fundamental; harmonics
D) pure tone; timbre

Question 22

Sounds that are higher on the dB scale are perceived as

A) quieter.
B) louder.
C) more complex.
D) purer.

Question 23

Each level of the auditory system shows _______ mapping.

A) topographic
B) tonotopic
C) tomographic
D) tonic

Question 24

The sound of a jetliner 200 feet overhead is about _______ decibels above the threshold of hearing of an average person.

A) 80
B) 100
C) 120
D) 140

Question 25

The average hearing capacity of humans is in the range of _______ Hz.

A) 20-20,000
B) 100-100,000
C) 200-250,000
D) 1,000-50,000

Question 26

Bats are very sensitive to sounds of very high frequencies (greater than 20,000 Hz), which are also called

A) ultrasound.
B) infrasound.
C) harmonic sound.
D) timbre.

Question 27

Suppose a person is listening to music and increases the bass level. This may

A) signal to her brain a change in pitch through place coding.
B) increase the activation of receptors near the apex of the cochlea.
C) signal to her brain a change in pitch through temporal coding.
D) All the above

Question 28

Frequency discrimination in which the pitch of a sound is determined by the rate of firing of auditory neurons is called

A) place coding.
B) binaural processing.
C) temporal coding.
D) pitch processing.

Question 29

If a person facing forward hears a sound to her left,

A) her left ear hears exactly twice as well as her right ear.
B) her right ear will be cast in a sound shadow.
C) she experiences no onset disparity.
D) she must turn away from the sound to allow for spectral filtering.

Question 30

Sound latency differences between the two ears allows an animal to

A) determine if a sound is biologically relevant.
B) amplify sounds.
C) dampen sounds.
D) localize sounds.

Question 31

Which statement best describes the human auditory cortex?

A) It is specialized to detect simple and pure tones.
B) It is specialized to detect sounds containing many frequencies and complex patterns.
C) It is specialized to detect low-frequency sounds.
D) It is specialized to detect high-frequency sounds.

Question 32

Experience, music, and language all shape the responses of the _______ cortex.

A) thalamic
B) olivary
C) auditory
D) amusic

Question 33

Which outcome is not likely to occur if an infant is exposed to serious musical training?

A) Heschl's gyrus will be close to twice as large as that of nontrained infants by adulthood.
B) The brain will become extra sensitive to musical notes.
C) The brain will become more sensitive to infrasound.
D) Heschl's gyrus will be twice as strongly activated by musical notes as compared to nontrained individuals by adulthood.

Question 34

The phenomenon of amusia is an inability to

A) interpret jokes.
B) discern tunes accurately.
C) sing and dance at the same time.
D) play a musical instrument.

Question 35

The arcuate fasciculus is very prominent in individuals who

A) have a strong ability to discriminate pitch.
B) have no ability to discriminate pitch.
C) have amusia.
D) are sensitive to loud noises.

Question 36

What is the main difference between hearing loss and deafness?

A) Hearing loss can develop during life, while deafness is always a congenital condition.
B) Hearing loss is not considered a hearing disorder, while deafness is.
C) Deafness can be brought about by an accident or other event, while hearing loss is a slow process.
D) Hearing loss is defined as decreased sensitivity to sound, while deafness is hearing loss such that speech perception is not possible.

Question 37

Which statement about sensorineural deafness is true?

A) It is the result of a failure of sound vibrations to reach the inner ear.
B) It is caused by damage to hair cells or interruption of the vestibulocochlear nerve carrying information to the brain.
C) It is caused by damage to auditory brain areas.
D) It is caused by damage to the ossicles of the middle ear, which deadens the nerves at the base of the cochlea.

Question 38

The initial site of damage in noise-induced deafness is usually

A) the eardrum.
B) nerve fibers.
C) cochlear nuclei.
D) hair cells.

Question 39

Which statement about cochlear implants is false?

A) They work by stimulating the ossicles and hair cells directly.
B) They electrically stimulate the cochlea at locations corresponding to a sound's pitch.
C) They send information about low frequencies to electrodes, stimulating nerves at the apex of the cochlea.
D) They send information about high frequencies to electrodes, stimulating nerves at the base of the cochlea.

Question 40

Hearing may be partially restored in deaf people through the use of devices called

A) pseudostereocilia.
B) binaural replacements.
C) cochlear implants.
D) sound shadows.

Question 41

The _______ contains the receptor cells for the vestibular system.

A) ampulla
B) vestibular nuclei
C) organ of Corti
D) pinna

Question 42

Which event signals the brain that the head has moved?

A) The opening of ion channels on stereocilia
B) The sound latency difference between the two ears
C) The deflecting of the stereocilia in the ampulla
D) The activation of efferent fibers in the semicircular canals

Question 43

Vestibular nuclei in the brainstem receive information from

A) the ampulla.
B) vestibular organs.
C) vestibular hair cells.
D) the basilar membrane.

Question 44

Sensory conflict theory argues that we feel badly when we receive contradictory sensory messages. Passengers on an airplane in turbulence may experience an uncomfortable conflict between _______ and _______ information.

A) visual; auditory
B) vestibular; motor
C) vestibular; visual
D) visual; motor

Question 45

_______ is the experience of nausea brought on by unnatural passive movement.

A) Conduction motion
B) Motion sickness
C) Sensorineural movement
D) Motion shadows

Question 46

The vestibular system informs the brain about

A) acoustic stimuli.
B) the movement and position of the body.
C) forces that act within the body cavities.
D) stimulation of the autonomic nervous system.

Question 47

Which is not a type of taste papillae?

A) Turbinate
B) Foliate
C) Fungiform
D) Circumvallate

Question 48

The _______ of the tongue contain taste _______, which are made up of taste _______.

A) kokumi; pores; microvilli
B) taste buds; microvilli; papillae
C) tastants; foliates; neurons
D) papillae; buds; receptor cells

Question 49

People perceive sweet

A) only at the tip of the tongue.
B) only on the left side of the tongue.
C) only on the right side of the tongue.
D) anywhere on the tongue where there are taste receptors.

Question 50

Which is not typically considered one of the basic tastes?

A) Umami
B) Salty
C) Sour
D) Fruity

Question 51

Humans have evolved a high sensitivity to _______ taste.

A) bitter
B) salty
C) sour
D) sweet

Question 52

The sweet taste is mediated by

A) hydrogen ions interacting with ionotropic receptors.
B) sodium ions.
C) slow, metabotropic receptors.
D) T2R receptors.

Question 53

Salty taste is mediated by

A) hydrogen ions.
B) sodium and chloride ions.
C) slow, metabotropic receptors.
D) T2R receptors.

Question 54

One of the reasons that monosodium glutamate is used as a flavor enhancer is that

A) it activates sodium channels in taste buds.
B) it suppresses receptors for sweet in taste buds.
C) the umami receptor responds to foods that are naturally savory.
D) it activates TR2 receptors.

Question 55

Which correctly shows the pathway that taste information follows in the gustatory pathway?

A) Tongue, brainstem nuclei, pituitary, somatosensory cortex
B) Tongue, pituitary, brainstem nuclei, somatosensory cortex
C) Tongue, brainstem nuclei, somatosensory cortex, thalamus
D) Tongue, brainstem nuclei, thalamus, somatosensory cortex

Question 56

The _______ system is the sensory system that detects taste.

A) circumvallate
B) gustatory
C) umami
D) papillae

Question 57

Researchers have recently discovered taste receptors in various tissues throughout the human body, far from the head. The function of these receptors is largely unknown, but they may play a role in

A) detection of toxins.
B) appetite and digestion.
C) immune system functions.
D) detecting subtle tastes.

Question 58

The olfactory epithelium contains all the following types of cells except _______ cells.

A) basal
B) receptor
C) supporting
D) glomerular

Question 59

The prepyriform cortex is also known as the

A) primary olfactory cortex.
B) amygdala.
C) orbitofrontal cortex.
D) occipital lobe.

Question 60

Olfactory neurons have the capacity to regenerate in adulthood, while brain neurons do not. Why is it thought olfactory neurons adapted this function?

A) As a reaction to an increasingly complex olfactory environment
B) As a response to the hazards of the olfactory environment
C) As a response to declining of air quality
D) To compensate for losses of other senses as we age

Question 61

In contrast to other sensory systems, olfactory information is not relayed to the primary sensory cortex through the

A) hypothalamus.
B) amygdala.
C) olfactory bulb.
D) thalamus.

Question 62

Although humans produce only 400 olfactory receptor proteins, we able to discriminate possibly 1 trillion odors because

A) each odor activates a characteristic combination of different kinds of receptor molecules.
B) each odor is broken down into its component parts.
C) we have many specific genes per receptor.
D) olfactory neurons are continually replaced through adulthood.

Question 63

Vomeronasal organ (VNO) receptors project to the

A) main olfactory bulb.
B) accessory olfactory bulb.
C) medial dorsal thalamus.
D) orbitofrontal cortex.

Question 64

The number of cycles per second in a sound wave is referred as its _______.

Question 65

A multiple of a particular frequency is called the _______.

Question 66

_______ is defined as frequency discrimination in which the pitch of a sound is determined by location of activated hair cells along the basilar membrane.

Question 67

_______ is defined as frequency discrimination in which the pitch of a sound is determined by the rate of firing of auditory neurons

Question 68

The disparity between the two ears in the time of arrival of a sound is the _______.

Question 69

After many years of going to loud rock concerts a young man reports ringing in his ears, or _______.

Question 70

A hearing impairment that arises from problems with the middle ear is called _______ deafness.

Question 71

The surface of the tongue is scattered with many _______, which have taste buds within their walls.

Question 72

In nature, a _______ taste often signals the presence of toxins.

Question 73

The _______ system is the sensory system that detects taste.

Question 74

Create a short paragraph using the following terms: sound, pinna, ear (or auditory) canal, tympanic membrane, ossicles, middle ear, oval window.

Question 75

Where and how does auditory transduction occur in the ear?

Question 76

Outline the auditory pathway from the brainstem to the cortex.

Question 77

Explain how the brain localizes higher-frequency sounds.

Question 78

What is conduction deafness?

Question 79

Differentiate central deafness from word deafness and cortical deafness.

Question 80

Create a paragraph using the following terms: vestibular system, balance, semicircular canals, utricle, saccule, ampullae, and vestibulocochlear nerve.