PSYC 280 Study Guide - Tonotopy, Tas1R1, Vestibular Nerve

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 280
• Professor: John Reynolds

Document Summary

Ch 9 hearing, vestibular perception, taste, and smell. Hearing: our auditory system detects rapid changes of sound intensity (in db) and frequency (in hz) Outer parts of the auditory system have been shaped through evolution to capture biologically important sound vibrations and direct them into the inner parts of the ear, where mechanical force of sound is transduced (convert energy) into neural activity. External ear: pinnae: funnel sound waves into the second part of the external ear: ear canal. Pinna is distinctly mammalian characteristics (animals move ears to help find the source of sound) Receptors&muscles in pinnae give info to auditory path of the position of external ears to help find sound. Cochlea converts vibrational energy into waves of fluid. Inner ear: where sound converts into neural activity. Oval window is under the cochlea; movement of fluid inside cochlea in response to push on oval window makes a second window: round window(separate scala tympani from middle ear) to bulge outward.