Physical Aspects of Sound

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to hearing and the physical aspects of sound as discussed in the lecture.

Physical Definition of Sound

Sound is pressure changes in the air or other medium.

Perceptual Definition of Sound

Sound is the experience we have when we hear.

Amplitude

The difference in pressure between high and low peaks of a wave, perceived as loudness.

Decibel (dB)

A unit used to measure the intensity of sound, representing loudness.

Frequency

The number of cycles within a given time period, measured in Hertz (Hz).

Hertz (Hz)

A unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second.

Infrasound

Sound with frequencies below 20 Hz.

Ultrasound

Sound with frequencies above 20,000 Hz.

Loudness

The perception of sound intensity or amplitude.

Pitch

The perception of frequency; how high or low a sound seems.

Pure Tones

Sounds with a constant frequency, illustrated by sine waves.

Complex Tones

Sounds that consist of multiple frequencies and harmonics.

Basilar Membrane

A structure in the cochlea that separates the scala tympani from the scala media.

Organ of Corti

The sensory organ responsible for transducing sound vibrations into nerve signals.

Cochlea

A spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear involved in hearing.

Place Theory

Pitch is determined by the location along the basilar membrane that is activated by sound.

Volley Theory

The timing of sound waves matches the rate of firing of neural impulses in the auditory system.

Cochlear Implants

Devices that convert sound into electrical signals to stimulate the auditory nerve directly.

Auditory Pathways

The neural pathways that transmit auditory information from the cochlea to the auditory cortex.

Characteristic Frequency

The frequency at which a specific auditory nerve fiber is most responsive.

Audibility Curve

A graph that shows the threshold of hearing across different frequencies.

Presbycusis

Age-related hearing loss, particularly affecting high frequencies.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Hearing loss resulting from exposure to loud noise.

Hair Cells

Sensory receptor cells in the cochlea that convert sound vibrations into nerve impulses.

Cilia

Tiny hair-like structures on hair cells that are involved in transducing sound.

Tympanic Membrane

Commonly known as the eardrum, it vibrates in response to sound.

Eardrum

Another term for the tympanic membrane, a critical part of sound transmission.

Semicircular Canals

Structures in the inner ear that help maintain balance but are not directly involved in hearing.

Cochlear Partition

The separation within the cochlea that contains the Organ of Corti.

Auditory Nerve

The nerve that carries auditory information from the cochlea to the brain.

Inner Hair Cells

Hair cells located in the Organ of Corti that send electrical signals to the auditory nerve.

Outer Hair Cells

Hair cells that amplify sound vibrations as part of the hearing process.

Tone Height

The perceived pitch of a sound related to its frequency.

Sound Pressure Level

A measure of the pressure level of a sound relative to a reference level.