Question 1

Hearing begins when sound waves stimulate the ________.

Accepted Answer

The eardrum, also known as the tympanic membrane, is the first structure in the ear to receive sound waves and transfer them to the middle ear. The other choices - round window, earlobe, and oval window - are also parts of the ear, but are not involved in the initial process of hearing sound waves.

Question 2

The human ear responds to frequencies from approximately ________ Hz.

Accepted Answer

The human ear responds to frequencies from approximately 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.

Question 3

The primary destination of sound messages in the brain is the ________ lobe.

Accepted Answer

The temporal lobe is responsible for processing auditory information, making it the primary destination of sound messages in the brain. The other lobes have different functions, such as the parietal lobe's role in processing sensory information and the frontal lobe's role in decision-making and motor control. The occipital lobe is primarily responsible for processing visual information.

Question 4

Frequency is the primary determinant of ________.

Accepted Answer

Frequency is the number of vibrations per second and is responsible for determining the pitch of a sound.

Question 5

The belief that pitch is determined by the location on the basilar membrane where the message is the strongest is called ________ theory.

Accepted Answer

The place theory proposes that pitch is determined by the location on the basilar membrane where neural firing is the strongest. This theory suggests that different frequencies of sound waves activate different areas of the basilar membrane, which in turn sends signals to the brain that are interpreted as different pitches.

Question 6

The membrane across the opening between the middle ear and the inner ear that conducts the ossicle's amplified vibrations to the cochlea is called the ________.

Accepted Answer

The oval window is the membrane across the opening between the middle ear and the inner ear that conducts the ossicle's amplified vibrations to the cochlea. The eardrum (C) separates the outer ear from the middle ear, while the organ of Corti (B) is located in the cochlea and is responsible for transducing sound into neural signals. The round window (D) is a membrane-covered opening in the cochlea that allows for the dissipation of pressure waves.

Question 7

Research suggests that most other mammals ________.

Accepted Answer

Most other mammals can perceive color, but not in the same way humans do. They typically have only two types of color-sensitive cells (cones) in their eyes, which allow them to distinguish between blues and yellows or between reds and greens. Some mammals, such as dogs and many nocturnal species, have only one type of cone and see the world in shades of gray, similar to black and white.

Question 8

The sense of hearing is ________.

Accepted Answer

The sense of hearing is bilateral, meaning it occurs in both ears. This allows us to detect the direction and location of sounds in our environment. Dichromatic and trichromatic refer to vision and the number of color receptors in the eyes, while unilateral means occurring on only one side of the body.

Question 9

The psychological experience created by the brain in response to changes in pressure that are perceived in the auditory system is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

The psychological experience created by the brain in response to changes in pressure that are perceived in the auditory system is specifically sound, as it is the detection and interpretation of these pressure changes. Harmonics, amplitude, and vibration are all components or features of sound, but they do not encompass the entire psychological experience of perceiving sound.

Question 10

The view that auditory neurons can fire in sequence, such that a set of neurons fire and have time to recover to create a rapid series of impulses, is referred to as _______.

Accepted Answer

The volley principle suggests that auditory neurons can fire in sequence, such that a set of neurons fire and have time to recover to create a rapid series of impulses. This allows for the perception of sounds with frequencies higher than an individual neuron could respond to on its own. The other options - overtones, frequency theory, and place theory - refer to other aspects of how our auditory system processes sound, but they do not specifically relate to the sequence firing of neurons.

Question 11

The hammer, anvil, and stirrup are the ________.

Accepted Answer

The hammer, anvil, and stirrup are three tiny bones in the middle ear, also known as the ossicles. They transmit vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.

Question 12

Hertz is a unit of measurement of ________.

Accepted Answer

Hertz is used to measure the frequency of sound waves.

Question 13

The place theory and the frequency theory attempt to explain ________.

Accepted Answer

The place theory and the frequency theory are two competing theories that attempt to explain how we perceive pitch discrimination in sounds. The place theory argues that different frequencies are processed at specific locations on the basilar membrane in the cochlea, while the frequency theory suggests that pitch is determined by the frequency of neural impulses that travel along the auditory nerve. Therefore, the correct answer is A) pitch discrimination.

Question 14

The timbre of sound is determined by ________.

Accepted Answer

The timbre of sound is determined by the overtones, which are the frequencies that accompany the fundamental frequency of a sound wave. Overtones give different sounds their unique quality, or timbre. The amplitude of the sound wave relates to the loudness of the sound, but not the timbre. The volley principle is related to how our brain interprets sounds from different sources. Perceived loudness is related to the amplitude of a sound wave.

Question 15

The trichromatic and opponent-process theories of color vision are not in conflict because each corresponds to ________.

Accepted Answer

The trichromatic theory explains color vision at the level of the retina, where three types of cones respond to different wavelengths of light. The opponent-process theory explains color vision at the level of the visual processing pathways in the brain, where signals from the cones are combined and then further processed into signals for pairs of opposing colors (red vs. green, blue vs. yellow, black vs. white). Therefore, the two theories are not in conflict because they correspond to different stages of visual processing.

Question 16

The number of cycles per second in a sound wave is known as its ________.

Accepted Answer

The number of cycles per second in a sound wave is known as its frequency.

Question 17

The idea that the eye contains three pairs of color receptors (red-green, yellow-blue, and black-white) is known as the ________ theory.

Accepted Answer

The opponent-process theory suggests that the human visual system interprets color in terms of opposing pairs: red-green, yellow-blue, and black-white. This theory complements the trichromatic theory, which posits that the eye has three types of color receptors sensitive to red, green, and blue light.

Question 18

The cochlea is divided lengthwise by the ________.

Accepted Answer

The cochlea is divided lengthwise by the basilar membrane into the scala vestibuli and scala tympani.

Question 19

As hearing takes place, an electrical signal is created from the physical signal of the sound waves, eventually sending nerve impulses to the brain via the auditory nerve. What actually causes the electrical signal to be formed?

Accepted Answer

Bending of the hair cells in the organ of Corti by the basilar membrane is what causes the electrical signal to be formed. This is known as mechanotransduction, where the physical movement of the hair cells due to the vibrations of the basilar membrane is converted into neural signals that are transmitted to the brain.

Question 20

Decibels are used to measure ________.

Accepted Answer

Decibels are a unit of measurement for the intensity or loudness of sound.

Quiz 3: Sensation and Perception