Auditory Signals Run from Cochlea to Cortex

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards focusing on the auditory system, including terms, definitions, and key concepts related to auditory signals from the cochlea to the cortex.

Cochlea

The spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear responsible for converting sound waves into neural signals.

Auditory pathway

The network of structures that transmits auditory information from the cochlea to the auditory cortex.

Vestibulocochlear nerve

Cranial nerve VIII, which carries auditory and balance information from the inner ear to the brain.

IHCs

Inner hair cells, which are responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals.

Tuning curve

A graphical representation of a sensory neuron’s sensitivity to various frequencies.

Neuronal response

The reaction of nerve cells in response to stimuli, such as sound frequencies.

Binaural interaction

The way auditory signals from both ears are combined and processed by the brain.

Superior olivary nucleus

A brainstem structure where binaural processing of auditory information begins.

Inferior colliculi

The primary auditory centers in the midbrain that process sound before it reaches the thalamus.

Medial geniculate nucleus

The thalamic relay station that transmits auditory information to the auditory cortex.

Tonotopic organization

The spatial arrangement of where sounds of different frequencies are processed in the brain.

Frequency discrimination

The ability to distinguish between different sound frequencies.

Cortex

The outer layer of the brain, where auditory information is ultimately processed.

Auditory cortex

The part of the cerebral cortex that processes auditory information.

Frequency map

The systematic arrangement of auditory frequencies along the auditory pathway.

Threshold

The minimum intensity of a stimulus that can evoke a response in a sensory neuron.

Afferent fibers

Nerve fibers that carry sensory information from the periphery to the central nervous system.

Frequency response

The range of frequencies to which a neuron responds.

Auditory neurons

Nerve cells that transmit and process auditory information.

Neural activation

The process by which neurons become active in response to stimuli.

Primary auditory cortex (A1)

The region of the cortex that first receives and processes auditory information.

Speech sounds

Verbal communication tones that activate specific regions in the auditory cortex.

Lip-reading

The ability to understand speech by visually interpreting movements of the lips.

Temporal lobes

Regions of the brain located at the sides of the cerebral cortex, crucial for processing auditory information.

Cerebral hemispheres

The two halves of the brain that are involved in higher-level processing, including auditory perception.

Broad tuning curves

A characteristic of auditory neurons where they respond to a range of frequencies, not just one.

Sound intensity

The strength or loudness of a sound, measured in decibels (dB).

Auditory projections

The pathways along which auditory signals travel from the cochlea to the cortex.

Binaural cues

Auditory signals from both ears used to identify sound location.

Auditory signal integration

The process of combining auditory information from both ears for better perception.

Cross-midline projection

The process where auditory information from one ear is processed in the opposite hemisphere of the brain.

Frequency tuning

The process by which auditory neurons become sensitive to specific frequencies.

Auditory stimuli

Sounds that can be perceived and processed by the auditory system.

Tonotopic mapping

The mapping of sound frequency onto specific brain regions.

Cochlear nuclei

The brainstem nuclei that receive input from the auditory nerves.

Pathway divergence

The splitting of a signal as it travels through the auditory system.

Noise activation

The response of the auditory system to non-specific sounds.

Functional MRI

A brain imaging technique that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow.

PET scans

Imaging tests that use a radioactive substance to show how tissues and organs function.

Intensity-related response

How the response of auditory neurons varies with the loudness of a sound.

Neural inhibition

The process by which certain neural signals reduce the activity of other neurons.

Auditory activation

The response of the auditory cortex to sound stimuli.

Cerebellum

A brain region that also plays a role in processing auditory information.

Sound localization

The ability to determine the location of a sound source.

Ascending auditory system

The pathway that carries auditory information from the cochlea to various brain regions.

Neural pathways

Connections between neurons that transmit information throughout the nervous system.

Auditory processing disorder

A condition affecting the brain's ability to process auditory information.

Cochlear output

The response and signals produced by the cochlea in reaction to sound.

Neural networks

Interconnected groups of neurons that work together to process information.