BCS 110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Basilar Membrane, Oval Window, Natural Sounds
29 Oct 2018
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Document Summary
The function of the auditory system = to perceive sounds (to localize and identify sounds in space) Physical dimensions of sound relate to perceptual dimensions. Amplitude - loudness, frequency- pitch, complexity- timbre. Natural sounds are complex patterns of vibrations. Fourier analysis breaks a natural sound down into its component sine waves. There"s a complex relationship b/w sound components and perception. When added together, sine waves produce clarinet sound. Vibrations of fluid dissipated at round window. Divided into three chambers (scala) by reissner"s membrane and the basilar membrane. The auditory receptor organ, the organ of corti, sits on the basilar membrane in the middle scala. Top of horn - apex is flexible, thick, and large mass. Base of horn - stiff, thin, and low mass. Two types of hair cells in the organ of corti. All hair cells have stereocilia on their upper surfaces which are in/near the tectorial membrane. Up-down motion of basilar membrane converted to side-to-side motion of stereocilia.
