Perception of Loudness and Pitch & Deafness

Perceived louder sounds

more sensory neurons are fired from the organ of corti

Hermann von Helmholtz

Place Theory of Pitch Discrimination (person)

Place Theory of Pitch Discrimination

diff pitch = diff frequency = receptors of a specific site in basilar membrane fire

4000 Hz

Place Theory of Pitch Discrimination accounts for pitch discrimination of at least _______

Frequency Theory

need to match frequency of sound waves w/ neural impulses to perceive lower pitches

20 - few hundred cycles / second

Frequency Theory accounts for pitch perception between _____

few hundred - 4k cycles / second

Volley Principle accounts for pitch discrimination between ___________

Conductive Deafness

hearing impairment: damage to structures of middle ear (eardrum or bones that amplify soundwaves)

Conductive Deafness

hearing impairment: often found among older people

Sensorineural Deafness

hearing impairment: damage to structures of inner ear (loss of hair cells)

Sensorineural Deafness

hearing impairment: damage to auditory nerve caused by disease or exposure to loud sounds

Sensorineural Deafness

hearing impairment: tend to be more sensitive to some pitches than others

Hunter's notch

loss is limited to the frequencies of sound waves generated by gun firing

Ringing sensation

this follows after loud sound exposure = hair cells have been damaged

Cochlear Implants

AKA Artificial ears

Cochlear Implants

contain microphones that sense sounds and electronic equipment -> transmits sounds past damaged hair cells to stimulate the auditory nerve