CHAPTER 6

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.