Term: Amplitude
Definition: The height of a sound wave, which determines its loudness. Greater amplitude corresponds to a louder sound.
Term: Amusia
Definition: A disorder characterized by an inability to recognize musical tones or reproduce them. Often referred to as "tone deafness."
Term: Cochlea
Definition: A spiral-shaped, fluid-filled structure in the inner ear that translates sound waves into nerve impulses through hair cells.
Term: Conductive Deafness (Middle-Ear Deafness)
Definition: Hearing loss caused by damage to the middle ear, preventing sound waves from being properly conducted to the inner ear.
Term: Frequency
Definition: The number of sound wave cycles per second, measured in Hertz (Hz). Frequency determines the pitch of the sound.
Term: Frequency Theory
Definition: Theory suggesting that the rate of nerve impulses sent to the brain matches the frequency of the tone, which is used to detect pitch.
Term: Hair Cells
Definition: Sensory cells located in the cochlea that transform sound vibrations into electrical signals for the auditory nerve.
Term: Nerve Deafness (Inner-Ear Deafness)
Definition: Hearing loss resulting from damage to the cochlea, hair cells, or auditory nerve, impacting the ability to transmit sound to the brain.
Term: Oval Window
Definition: A membrane-covered opening in the cochlea that receives vibrations from the middle ear and transmits them to the inner ear fluid.
Term: Pinna
Definition: The external part of the ear that collects sound waves and funnels them into the ear canal toward the eardrum.
Term: Pitch
Definition: The perception of how high or low a sound is, determined by the frequency of sound waves.
Term: Place Theory
Definition: Theory that suggests different areas of the cochlea are activated by different frequencies, which helps us perceive pitch.
Term: Primary Auditory Cortex (Area A1)
Definition: The brain region in the temporal lobe responsible for processing auditory information and essential for sound perception.
Term: Timbre
Definition: The quality or color of a sound that distinguishes it from others, even if they have the same pitch and loudness.
Term: Tinnitus
Definition: A condition characterized by a persistent ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in the ears, often due to hearing loss or ear injury.
Term: Tympanic Membrane
Definition: Also known as the eardrum, it vibrates in response to sound waves and transmits these vibrations to the ossicles in the middle ear.
Term: Capsaicin
Definition: A compound found in chili peppers that stimulates pain receptors, often used in topical treatments for pain relief due to its desensitizing effect on sensory neurons.
Term: Dermatome
Definition: An area of the skin supplied by sensory neurons from a single spinal nerve. Different dermatomes correspond to specific spinal nerves.
Term: Endorphins
Definition: Natural pain-relieving chemicals produced by the body that bind to opioid receptors, reducing the perception of pain and promoting a sense of well-being.
Term: Gate Theory
Definition: Theory suggesting that non-painful input can close "gates" to painful input, thus blocking pain perception in the central nervous system.
Term: Neuropathic Pain
Definition: Chronic pain caused by damage or dysfunction in the nervous system, often described as burning, tingling, or shooting pain.
Term: Nocebo
Definition: A negative placebo effect where expectations of adverse effects contribute to real negative symptoms, often psychological in origin.
Term: Numbsense
Definition: A condition in which a person lacks conscious sensory perception in a particular area but can respond to stimuli unconsciously.
Term: Opioid Mechanisms
Definition: Biological processes that involve opioid receptors in the brain, reducing pain perception through endogenous and exogenous opioids.
Term: Pacinian Corpuscle
Definition: A type of sensory receptor in the skin that detects mechanical pressure and vibration, essential for tactile sensation.
Term: Periaqueductal Gray Area
Definition: A region in the midbrain involved in pain suppression; it activates descending pain-modulation pathways and is influenced by opioids.
Term: Placebo
Definition: An inert substance or treatment that can produce real, positive effects on health due to the patient's belief in its efficacy.
Term: S1 (Primary Somatosensory Cortex)
Definition: The brain area responsible for processing sensory information from the body, such as touch, temperature, and pain, located in the parietal lobe.
Term: Semicircular Canals
Definition: Structures in the inner ear that detect rotational movement and help maintain balance through fluid movement and sensory cells.
Term: Somatosensory System
Definition: The sensory system responsible for processing information related to touch, temperature, body position, and pain across the body.
Term: Adaptation
Definition: The process by which sensory receptors become less responsive to constant stimuli over time, resulting in decreased perception of the stimulus.
Term: Cross-Adaptation
Definition: A reduced response to one stimulus after exposure to a different but similar stimulus, commonly seen in taste and smell.
Term: Olfaction
Definition: The sense of smell, which involves detecting and processing odor molecules through the olfactory system.
Term: Olfactory Cells
Definition: Specialized sensory neurons located in the nasal cavity that detect odor molecules and transmit signals to the brain.
Term: Papillae
Definition: Small bumps on the surface of the tongue that Contain taste buds, which are responsible for detecting different flavors.
Term: Supertasters
Definition: Individuals with a high density of taste buds, making them more sensitive to bitter and other strong flavors compared to average tasters.
Term: Synesthesia
Definition: A condition in which stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory pathway, such as "seeing" sounds as colors.
Term: Taste Buds
Definition: Clusters of sensory cells on the tongue and in the mouth that detect different flavors and send taste signals to the brain.