Hearing, Mechanical and Chemical Senses

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on biological psychology with an emphasis on hearing, mechanical and chemical senses.

Amplitude

The loudness of sound.

Frequency

The pitch of sound, measured in hertz (Hz).

Timbre

The tone quality of sound.

Prosody

The emotional tone conveyed through pitch, loudness, and timbre.

Pinna

The outer part of the ear that helps to locate sound sources by altering sound wave reflections.

Tympanic membrane

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

Cochlea

A snail-shaped structure in the inner ear that contains fluid-filled tunnels and hair cells.

Frequency theory

The theory that the basilar membrane vibrates in sync with sound waves, causing neurons to fire at matching rates.

Place theory

The theory that different parts of the basilar membrane respond to different frequencies.

Absolute pitch

The ability to identify or produce a musical note without a reference tone.

Ototoxicity

Harm to the ear, specifically the cochlea or auditory nerve, from substances like certain medications.

Tinnitus

A condition characterized by a constant or frequent ringing in the ears.

Somatosensation

The sensation of the body and its movements, including touch, pain, and temperature.

Pacinian corpuscle

A type of somatosensory receptor that detects vibrations or sudden displacements on the skin.

Endorphins

Natural brain chemicals that activate opiate receptors and can inhibit pain.

Gate theory

The theory that non-pain stimuli can modify the perception of pain by closing the gate in the spinal cord.

Taste buds

The receptors on the tongue that taste stimuli.

Olfaction

The sense of smell.

Glomerulus

A cluster in the olfactory bulb where axons from olfactory receptors connect.

Synesthesia

The experience of one sense in response to stimulation of a different sense.