PS101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Thalamus, Vestibular System, Taste
Document Summary
Provides input about the world, but not until incoming information is processed by the brain. A distal stimulus a screech of tires, someone laughing produces a proximal stimulus in the form of sound waves reaching the ears. Sound waves are vibrations of molecules, which means that they must travel through some physical medium, such as air. Sound waves can be generated by forcing air past a chamber, or by releasing a burst of air. Sound waves are characterized by their amplitude, their wavelength, and their purity. Wavelengths of sound are described in terms of their frequency, which is measured in cycles per second. Higher frequencies are perceived as having higher pitch. Humans can hear sounds ranging from as low of 20 hz up to a high of about 20 000hz. Sounds at either end of this range are had to hear. The greater the amplitude of sound waves, the louder the sound perceived.
