Hearing Physiology and Sound Localization

Flashcards covering key concepts and vocabulary related to the physiology of hearing and sound localization.

Pinna

The outer part of the ear that gathers sound from the environment.

Tympanic membrane

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

Cochlea

A snail-shaped structure in the inner ear that transduces mechanical energy into neural signals.

Basilar membrane

A structure in the cochlea that responds to sound waves and plays a role in frequency coding.

Place Theory

A theory suggesting different parts of the basilar membrane resonate at different frequencies.

Frequency Theory

The theory that the whole basilar membrane vibrates in synchrony with the frequency of a sound wave.

Loudness

The perceived intensity of a sound, influenced by the amplitude of sound waves.

Decibels

A unit of measurement for sound intensity.

Sound Localization

The ability to identify the location of a sound in the environment.

Intensity- Distance relationship

The principle that sound intensity decreases with distance according to the inverse square law.