Auditory system

What is the function of cochlear hair cells in the auditory system?

• • a) Transmit sound waves to the auditory cortex.

• • b) Amplify sound waves to enhance hearing.

• • c) Convert mechanical vibrations into neural signals.

• • d) Filter out high-frequency sounds.

How are cochlear hair cells frequency-tuned?

• • a) They respond equally to all frequencies.

• • b) They amplify low-frequency sounds and dampen high-frequency sounds.

• • c) Each hair cell is tuned to specific frequencies along the basilar membrane.

• • d) They are only sensitive to the loudest sounds.

What is the role of the superior olivary nuclei (SON) in sound localization?

• • a) Detect changes in sound spectrum due to the shape of the outer ear.

• • b) Determine sound location based on differences in arrival time of sound signals to each ear.

• • c) Respond to multiple frequency components and changes in vocalizations over time.

• • d) Enhance the tonotopic organization in the auditory cortex.

How does sound localization differ between birds and mammals?

• • a) Birds use graded channels for sound localization, while mammals use specific neurons for narrow ITD ranges.

• • b) Birds and mammals both rely on ITD for horizontal sound localization.

• • c) Mammals use specific neurons for narrow ITD ranges, while birds use graded channels.

• • d) Birds and mammals have identical mechanisms for sound localization.

Which part of the auditory cortex is responsible for processing the spatial aspects of sound, such as horizontal location?

• • a) Core region

• • b) Belt region

• • c) Parabelt region

• • d) All of the above

What does tonotopic organization refer to in the auditory cortex?

• • a) Organization of auditory neurons based on their response to complex sounds like vocalizations.

• • b) Arrangement of auditory areas based on the frequency of sounds they respond to.

• • c) Mechanism for determining sound location vertically.

• • d) Ability of the auditory cortex to respond to longer sound stimuli with sustained activity.

What is the significance of narrowing tuning with hierarchy in spatial tuning in the auditory system?

• • a) It enhances the response to high-frequency sounds.

• • b) It allows for more precise localization of sound sources.

• • c) It reduces the variability in cortical responses to sound.

• • d) It increases the sensitivity to changes in vocalizations over time.

How do neurons in the auditory cortex respond to complex sounds like vocalizations?

• • a) They respond equally to all frequency components.

• • b) They only respond to the loudest frequency component.

• • c) They assemble responses from various neurons to process the entire vocalization.

• • d) They show sustained activity regardless of the complexity of the sound.

How might the tonotopic organization of the auditory cortex contribute to our ability to perceive complex sounds?

• • a) By enhancing the detection of low-frequency sounds.

• • b) By allowing for the precise localization of sound sources.

• • c) By facilitating the segregation of different frequency components of complex sounds.

• • d) By reducing the variability in cortical responses to sound.

Explain the role of the superior olivary nuclei (SON) in localizing sounds horizontally. How might this mechanism differ between humans and other mammals?

• • a) SON detects differences in arrival time of sound signals to each ear, but the mechanism is similar across all mammals.

• • b) SON uses specific neurons for narrow interaural time differences (ITD) in humans, while other mammals rely on graded channels.

• • c) SON enhances tonotopic organization in the auditory cortex, improving sound localization in all mammals.

• • d) SON is not involved in horizontal sound localization; it only processes vertical sound cues.