PSYC 110 Lecture 11: Hearing and Vestibular Perception
1 Dec 2016
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Document Summary
Waves of pressure changes in air molecules are sound waves. Processing sound waves: ear collects sounds waves from the surrounding air, converts mechanical energy into neural (electrochemical) energy, routed through the brainstem to the auditory cortex, a lot of processing happens in cortex. Functional anatomy of the auditory system: major difference between the human and the monkey cortex is a marked expansion of auditory areas in humans. Pinna: catches sound waves in the surrounding environment and de ects them into the ear canal. External ear canal: ampli es sound waves somewhat and directs them to the eardrum, which vibrates in accordance with the frequency of the sound wave. Middle ear: air- lled chamber that contains the ossicles: Stirrup: connects the eardrum to the oval window of the cochlea (contains receptor cells), loaded in the inner ear. Fluid- lled inner ear structure that contains the auditory receptor cells. Organ of corti: receptor cells and the cells that support them: basilar membrane.
