PSYC 3670 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Vestibular Duct, Basilar Membrane, Oval Window

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 3670
• Professor: Kristoffer Romero

Document Summary

*auditory system: detects changes in vibration of air molecules caused by sound. Decibels (db): a measure of intensity/loudness of sound (human threshold = 1 db/second) Amplitude: measured by dynes/cm2; force that sound exerts per unit area. Hertz (hz): a measure of frequency/cycles per second in a sound wave (pitch) Cycle: single compression & expansion of air. Pure tone: a tone with a single frequency of vibration. Fundamental: basic frequency of an auditory tone. Harmonics: multiples of a particular frequency (the fundamental) Timbre: characteristic sound quality of each instrument given by its intensity of its harmonics. Three dimensions of sound: frequency, amplitude, complexity. Transduction: conversion of one form of energy to another (vibrations -> sound) Pinna: (pinnae) external part of the ear (funnel sound waves to ear canal) Pinnae is distinctly mammalian & mammals move them to determine source of sound.