Sensation: Audition (Hearing)

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to the sensation of hearing, including sound wave properties, theories of pitch perception, anatomy of the ear, and types of hearing loss.

Soundwaves

Vibrations that travel through air or another medium, which are perceived as sound.

Frequency

The number of wavelengths that pass a point in a given time; determines the pitch of the sound.

Amplitude

The height of soundwaves; determines the intensity or volume of the sound.

Place Theory

A theory that links the pitch we hear with the location of stimulation on the cochlea’s membrane.

Frequency Theory

A theory stating that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of the sound.

Volley Theory

An extension of Frequency Theory where action potentials are fired by neurons slightly out of sync to perceive greater frequencies of sound.

Auditory Canal

The channel in the outer ear that directs sound waves to the eardrum.

Tympanic Membrane

A membrane in the middle ear that vibrates in response to sound waves, transmitting sound further into the ear.

Cochlea

A coiled, bony, fluid-filled structure in the inner ear where sound vibrations are transduced into neural messages.

Auditory Nerve

The nerve that transmits transduced neural messages from the cochlea to the brain.

Conduction Hearing Loss

Hearing loss due to problems with the structure of the ear that prevents sound waves from reaching the cochlea.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea or auditory nerve, affecting communication with the brain.

Decibels

A logarithmic unit used to measure the intensity of sound.

Hearing Aid

A device used to amplify sound for individuals with hearing loss.

Cochlear Implant

A surgically implanted electronic device that provides a sense of sound to individuals with severe hearing loss.