Week 5

Language

A system of communication that involves the use of sound, symbols, gestures, or markings to convey meaning.

Speech production

The physical process of producing verbal utterances that convey meaning.

Speech perception

The process by which the brain interprets and understands the sounds of speech.

Auditory processing

The method by which the brain interprets sounds received from the ears, including speech.

Cochlea

A spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear that converts sound vibrations into electrical signals.

Basilar membrane

A structure in the cochlea that holds hair cells and plays a crucial role in converting sound waves into neural signals.

Motor theory of speech perception

A theory proposing that speech perception is closely linked to speech production mechanisms.

Embodied theory of speech perception

A theory suggesting that understanding speech is grounded in sensory and motor experiences.

Auditory theory of speech perception

A theory that posits speech perception is based primarily on general properties of the auditory system.

Tonotopic organization

A spatial arrangement in the auditory system where different frequencies are processed in different locations.

Phonetic features

Distinctive characteristics of speech sounds, such as manner and place of articulation.

Primary auditory cortex

The region of the brain responsible for processing auditory information, including sound and speech.

Primary visual cortex

The part of the brain that processes visual information, used more in reading than in spoken language understanding.

Ossicles

Three tiny bones in the middle ear that amplify sound vibrations before they are transmitted to the cochlea.

Eardrum

A thin membrane that vibrates in response to sound waves, initiating the auditory process.

Speech sound variability

The differences in how speech sounds are produced and perceived, including variations in accent, intonation, and pronunciation.

Superior temporal gyrus

A part of the brain involved in processing auditory information, including aspects of speech perception.

Left inferior frontal gyrus

Brain region associated with language production and processing; involved in articulatory features.

Primary motor cortex

The part of the brain responsible for planning and executing movements, including those involved in speech.

Pre-motor cortex

Brain region involved in preparing the body for movement, including the muscles used in speech.

Species-specific speech perception

The idea that certain aspects of speech perception are unique to humans, distinguishing it from animal communication.