Question 1

The _______ is the difference in time between a sound arriving at one ear versus the other and helps us localize sound.

Accepted Answer

The interaural time difference is the difference in arrival time of a sound between two ears, which is crucial for localizing the source of the sound in the horizontal plane.

Question 2

The azimuth is the

Accepted Answer

The azimuth refers to the angle of a sound source on the horizontal plane relative to a central point, typically considered to be between the ears for human listeners. This concept is used in spatial hearing to describe the position of a sound source in the environment.

Question 3

Suppose you are in the woods and hear a high-pitched screech (above 1000 Hz). Which auditory localization cue will help you determine where the sound came from?

Accepted Answer

For high-pitched sounds (above 1000 Hz), the interaural level difference (ILD) is the primary cue for auditory localization. This is because high frequencies have shorter wavelengths, making it easier for the head to create a sound shadow, leading to level differences between the ears.

Question 4

Refer to the figure.
 The blue circles in this interaural time difference diagram refer to locations from which sound reaches the _______ first.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Refer to the figure.
 The blue circles...

Question 5

Which method(s) of sound localization between the two ears is/are used most often for tones of very low frequencies?

Accepted Answer

For very low frequencies, the interaural time difference (ITD) is the primary method used for sound localization. This is because low-frequency sounds have longer wavelengths, making it difficult for the head to create a significant level difference between the ears, but the timing difference can still be detected effectively.

Question 6

Which method(s) of sound localization between the two ears is/are used most often for tones of very high frequencies?

Accepted Answer

For very high frequencies, the interaural level difference (ILD) is the primary method used for sound localization. This is because high-frequency sounds have shorter wavelengths, making it difficult for the sound waves to diffract around the head, thus creating a shadow effect that results in a level difference between the ears.

Question 7

Refer to the graph.
 This graph shows _______ for tones of different frequencies presented at different positions around the head.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Refer to the graph.
 This graph shows...

Question 8

Which direction on the azimuth would have the largest interaural time difference?

Accepted Answer

The interaural time difference (ITD) is largest when sounds come from a direction perpendicular to the line connecting the two ears, which is at 90° (or 270°) on the azimuth. This is because the sound has to travel the greatest distance to reach the far ear compared to when sound comes from other directions.

Question 9

_______ refers to the region of positions in space where all the sounds produce the same time and level (intensity) differences.

Accepted Answer

The "Cone of confusion" refers to a region of positions in space where sounds produce the same time and level (intensity) differences, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact location of the sound source.

Question 10

Which of the following do(es) not contribute to sound localization?

Accepted Answer

The cone of confusion refers to a region of positions in space where sounds produce the same interaural time and level differences, making it difficult to localize sound.

Question 11

Refer to the figure.
 What concept does this figure illustrate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Refer to the figure.
 What concept does...

Question 12

The _______ is a function that describes how the pinna, ear canal, head, and torso change the intensity of sounds with different frequencies that arrive at each ear from different locations in space.

Accepted Answer

The correct term is "directional transfer function," which describes how the anatomy of the ear and head alters the intensity of sounds from different spatial locations, affecting how we perceive direction.

Question 13

Refer to the graphs.
 These graphs illustrate the

Accepted Answer

The answer of Refer to the graphs.
 These graphs illustrate...

Question 14

If someone's lateral superior olive structures are destroyed, they are most likely to experience difficulty using

Accepted Answer

The lateral superior olive is involved in processing interaural level differences, which are crucial for localizing high-frequency sounds.

Question 15

If someone's medial superior olive structures are destroyed, they are most likely to experience difficulty using

Accepted Answer

The medial superior olive (MSO) is involved in the processing of interaural time differences, which are crucial for localizing low-frequency sounds. High-frequency sounds are more reliant on interaural level differences, which are processed by different structures.

Question 16

The _______ is the relay station in the brain stem where inputs from both ears contribute to the detection of interaural time differences.

Accepted Answer

The medial superior olive (MSO) is the part of the brain stem that processes interaural time differences, which are crucial for localizing sound sources.

Question 17

The _______ is a relay station in the brain stem where inputs from both ears contribute to the detection of interaural level differences.

Accepted Answer

The lateral superior olive (LSO) is a structure in the brain stem where inputs from both ears converge, playing a crucial role in the detection of interaural level differences, which are essential for sound localization.

Question 18

Neurons that are sensitive to intensity differences between the two ears can be found in the

Accepted Answer

The lateral superior olives are involved in detecting intensity differences between the two ears, which is crucial for sound localization.

Question 19

Damage to which structure would specifically impair computations of interaural time differences?

Accepted Answer

The medial superior olive (MSO) is specifically involved in computing interaural time differences, which is crucial for sound localization. This structure processes the timing differences in sound arrival between the two ears.

Question 20

Damage to which structure would specifically impair computations of interaural level differences?

Accepted Answer

The Lateral Superior Olive (LSO) is specifically involved in computing interaural level differences, which are crucial for sound localization, particularly for high-frequency sounds. The LSO receives input from both ears and compares the intensity levels to help determine the direction of sound.

Quiz 10: Hearing in the Environment