Chapter 7 Physiological Psychology Study Quiz

The cochlea is the spiral-shaped, fluid-filled structure in the inner ear responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain. It contains tiny hair cells that are stimulated by the movement of fluid, sending signals to the auditory nerve. The ossicles are the three small bones in the middle ear that transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the cochlea. The incus is one of these ossicles, while the pinna is the visible part of the outer ear that helps collect sound waves.

When the hair cells in the ear are damaged, it leads to a loss of hearing. Hair cells are responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain. When these cells are damaged or destroyed, they are unable to transmit these signals effectively, resulting in a loss of the ability to hear sounds.

The afferent auditory nerve is responsible for transmitting hearing information from the cochlea to the central nervous system. This nerve carries the electrical signals generated by the hair cells in the cochlea to the brain, where they are processed and interpreted as sound.

Pain receptors, also known as nocireceptors, are sensory receptors that respond to potentially harmful stimuli by sending signals to the brain, resulting in the perception of pain. These receptors are specialized nerve endings found throughout the body and are responsible for detecting and transmitting pain signals.

The middle ear contains ossicles. Ossicles are three small bones called the malleus, incus, and stapes. These bones are located in the middle ear and play a crucial role in transmitting sound vibrations from the outer ear to the inner ear. They amplify and transmit sound waves, allowing us to hear properly. The outer ear is responsible for collecting sound waves, while the inner ear contains the cochlea, which is responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain.

Hair cells within the organ of Corti are responsible for transducing sound waves into nerve impulses. The organ of Corti is located within the cochlea of the inner ear and contains thousands of hair cells. These hair cells are specialized sensory cells that convert mechanical vibrations (sound waves) into electrical signals (nerve impulses) that can be interpreted by the brain as sound. This process of transduction allows us to perceive and understand different pitches and tones of sound.

Spontaneous firing refers to the occurrence of neural firing in the absence of any external sound stimulation. This can happen when the neurons in the auditory system generate electrical impulses spontaneously, without being triggered by any specific sound input. Spontaneous firing is an important phenomenon in auditory processing as it helps maintain a baseline level of neural activity and can contribute to the detection of weak sounds or the perception of silence.

Pain receptors, also known as nociceptors, are sensory receptors that detect and respond to potentially harmful stimuli. These receptors can be activated by both mechanical and chemical stimulation. Mechanical stimulation refers to physical pressure or force applied to the body, such as a cut or injury, while chemical stimulation refers to the presence of certain chemicals that can cause pain, such as inflammatory molecules released during tissue damage or irritation. Therefore, pain receptors can be triggered by both types of stimuli, allowing the body to perceive and respond to potential threats or injuries.

The malleus, incus, and stapes are small bones located in the middle ear. They are commonly referred to as the ossicles. These three bones work together to transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. The malleus is attached to the eardrum and transfers the vibrations to the incus, which then passes them to the stapes. The stapes then transmits the vibrations to the fluid-filled cochlea in the inner ear, where they are converted into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain. Therefore, the correct answer is ossicles.

The Organ of Corti is a structure located in the inner ear. It is responsible for converting sound waves into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain. The outer ear consists of the pinna, which helps to collect sound waves, while the middle ear contains the eardrum and three small bones that transmit sound vibrations. However, the Organ of Corti is specifically located within the cochlea, which is part of the inner ear.

The tonotopic organization refers to the arrangement of different frequencies of sound along the basilar membrane in the cochlea. This means that different regions of the basilar membrane are sensitive to different frequencies of sound. As sound waves travel through the cochlea, they cause vibrations in specific areas of the basilar membrane based on their frequency. This allows the brain to perceive different pitches of sound based on the specific region of the basilar membrane that is activated. Therefore, the correct answer is "frequency; basilar membrane."

The correct answer is "Kinocilium" because it is not part of the vestibular sacs. The vestibular sacs include the semicircular canals, utricle, and saccule, which are responsible for detecting changes in head position and linear acceleration. The kinocilium, on the other hand, is a structure found in hair cells of some sensory organs, such as the inner ear and the lateral line system of fish, but it is not specifically part of the vestibular sacs.

Frequency selectivity refers to how fibers in the auditory system respond more to specific sound frequencies. This means that certain fibers are more sensitive to certain frequencies and will generate a stronger response when stimulated by those frequencies. This selectivity allows for the perception and discrimination of different frequencies in sound. Phase locking refers to the synchronization of neural firing to the phase of a sound wave. Spontaneous firing refers to the baseline level of neural activity in the absence of external stimulation. Place locking is not a recognized term in auditory physiology.

Kinesthesia is the sense that enables us to perceive the position and movement of our body parts. It is responsible for our awareness of the location of our limbs, the tension in our muscles, and the movement of our joints. This information is received through receptors located in our joints, tendons, and muscles. These receptors provide feedback to our brain about the position and movement of our body, allowing us to have a sense of our body's position in space and to coordinate our movements effectively. The other options, such as the semicircular canals, bones, and the peripheral nervous system, do not directly provide the necessary input for kinesthetic perception.

Inner hair cells are responsible for the hearing function. These specialized cells in the cochlea convert sound vibrations into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain. They play a crucial role in transmitting auditory information and are essential for our ability to perceive and understand sounds. Without functioning inner hair cells, the hearing process would be greatly impaired or even impossible.

Cranial nerves are responsible for transmitting sensory information from the head and neck to the brain. The cranial nerves involved in gustatory processing are responsible for transmitting taste information from different regions of the tongue and palate. The esophagus, on the other hand, is not involved in gustatory processing. Its main function is to transport food from the mouth to the stomach. Therefore, option 11 (esophagus) is not a cranial nerve involved with gustatory processing.

Wetness is not obtained by cutaneous senses because it is not a distinct sensory modality. The sensation of wetness is actually a combination of the tactile sensation of pressure and the thermal sensation of heat or cold. When our skin comes into contact with a wet object or substance, it triggers the perception of wetness through the activation of these other sensory modalities. Therefore, wetness itself is not directly detected by the cutaneous senses.

Hot receptors are not closer to the surface of the skin than cold receptors. In fact, cold receptors are located closer to the surface of the skin than hot receptors. This is because cold temperatures can cause damage to the skin more quickly than hot temperatures, so the body needs to be able to detect and respond to cold stimuli more rapidly.

The organ of Corti is a structure located within the cochlea of the inner ear. It is responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain. The organ of Corti consists of several components, including the basilar membrane, the tectorial membrane, and the hair cells. However, the cochlea itself is not part of the organ of Corti. The cochlea is the overall structure that houses the organ of Corti and other important structures involved in hearing.

Naloxone is an opioid receptor antagonist, meaning it blocks the effects of opioids. It is commonly used to reverse opioid overdoses. Therefore, it does not amplify opiate activity but rather reverses it. Naloxone is not used to detect opiate activity but rather to counteract its effects.

The brain does not have pain receptors. Pain receptors, also known as nociceptors, are specialized nerve endings that detect and transmit pain signals to the brain. However, the brain itself does not have these receptors, so it is unable to feel pain. This is why brain surgeries can be performed while the patient is awake, as the brain does not register pain during the procedure.

The correct order is Cochlear nucleus -> superior olivary complex -> inferior colliculus -> medial geniculate nucleus -> auditory cortex. This is the correct order of the auditory pathway in the central nervous system. Sound information first travels from the cochlea to the cochlear nucleus, then to the superior olivary complex, which is involved in sound localization. From there, it goes to the inferior colliculus, which is responsible for integrating auditory information. Next, it passes through the medial geniculate nucleus, which acts as a relay station to the auditory cortex, where sound perception occurs.

Outer hair cells form three rows of cells along the basilar membrane. This arrangement of cells allows for precise tuning and amplification of sound signals. The outer hair cells play a crucial role in the cochlea by amplifying and fine-tuning the vibrations of the basilar membrane, which is essential for the detection of different frequencies of sound. This three-row arrangement increases the sensitivity and selectivity of the auditory system, enabling us to perceive a wide range of sounds with accuracy.

Sourness is not correctly matched with hydroxide ions as hydroxide ions do not elicit a sour taste. Sourness is typically associated with the presence of acidic compounds such as citric acid or vinegar. Hydroxide ions, on the other hand, are alkaline and would generally be associated with a bitter taste.

The vestibule is not part of the Organ of Corti. The Organ of Corti is a structure located in the cochlea of the inner ear and is responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain. It consists of inner hair cells, outer hair cells, and stereocilia. The vestibule, on the other hand, is a part of the inner ear that is involved in balance and spatial orientation.

The taste of sourness is often associated with unripened food, as the sour taste indicates that the food is not yet fully mature or ripe. This evolutionary purpose serves as a warning signal to humans and animals, discouraging them from consuming unripe or potentially harmful food that may cause digestive issues or other health problems. By associating sourness with unripeness, our taste buds have evolved to help us make informed decisions about what is safe to eat and what is not.

Individual taste fibers are responsible for detecting different taste qualities, such as sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. Additionally, these taste fibers can also respond to different temperature sensations, such as hot and cold. Therefore, individual taste fibers can respond to several taste qualities and several taste temperatures.

The Place Code Theory of Pitch suggests that different frequencies of sound are encoded by specific locations along the basilar membrane in the cochlea. However, this theory has difficulty accounting for low frequencies because the physical properties of the basilar membrane make it less responsive to low-frequency vibrations. Therefore, the Place Code Theory is not as effective in explaining how low-frequency sounds are processed and perceived by the auditory system.

The medial geniculate nucleus is the correct answer because it is a relay station in the thalamus that receives auditory information from the inferior colliculus and sends it to the auditory cortex. This two-way information flow allows for the processing and interpretation of auditory stimuli. The other options, such as the cochlear nucleus, inferior colliculus, superior olivary complex, and auditory cortex, are involved in the auditory pathway but do not specifically utilize a two-way information flow with the auditory cortex like the medial geniculate nucleus does.

The scala vestibuli and scala media are separated by a membrane.

According to the Place Code Theory of Pitch, low frequency sound vibrations produce maximal distortion at the apex of the basilar membrane. This theory suggests that different frequencies of sound activate different parts of the basilar membrane, with high frequencies causing maximal distortion at the base and low frequencies causing maximal distortion at the apex. Therefore, the correct answer is the apex of the basilar membrane.

Heroin does not result in analgesia because it is an opioid drug that acts on the central nervous system to produce pain relief. It binds to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, inhibiting the transmission of pain signals. Therefore, heroin actually induces analgesia rather than not resulting in it.

The cochlear nucleus is the first brainstem nucleus where afferent auditory nerve fibers synapse. This means that when sound waves are detected by the ear, the auditory nerve fibers carry the information to the cochlear nucleus, which is responsible for processing and relaying the auditory signals to higher brain regions for further interpretation. The other options listed, such as the inferior colliculus, medial geniculate nucleus, superior olivary complex, and auditory cortex, are all involved in the auditory pathway but are not the first site of synapse for the auditory nerve fibers.

The auditory cortex is responsible for maintaining the tonotopic organization of frequencies. Tonotopy refers to the spatial arrangement of neurons in the auditory system that respond to different frequencies of sound. In the auditory cortex, neurons are arranged in an orderly manner based on the frequency of the sound they respond to. This organization allows for efficient processing and interpretation of different frequencies of sound, contributing to our ability to perceive and discriminate various pitches and tones.

The superior olivary complex is responsible for localizing sound by utilizing timing and intensity differences in binaural signals. This complex receives input from both ears and compares the differences in the arrival time and loudness of sounds to determine their location in space. It plays a crucial role in sound localization and helps us perceive the direction and distance of sounds accurately.

The semicircular canals are responsible for measuring the acceleration of the skull. These canals are part of the inner ear and are filled with fluid. When the head moves or changes its position, the fluid in the canals also moves, which stimulates the hair cells within the canals. This stimulation allows the brain to detect and interpret changes in acceleration and help maintain balance and spatial orientation. The semicircular canals do not measure velocity or angle of the skull, and sound localization is primarily attributed to the auditory system.

Outer hair cells are responsible for achieving high sensitivity and sharp tuning in the auditory system. They amplify sound vibrations and enhance the sensitivity of the cochlea. They also play a role in carrying information from the higher auditory system to the cochlea. However, the conversion of mechanical movement into neural activity is primarily done by inner hair cells, not outer hair cells.

Phase locking refers to the synchronization of the firing of a neuron with a specific phase of a sound wave. This means that the neuron consistently fires at the same point in the sound wave, indicating a strong relationship between the neural activity and the stimulus. It allows the brain to accurately process and distinguish different frequencies in the auditory system. Therefore, phase locking is the most appropriate explanation for the given statement.

The inferior colliculus is a midbrain structure that plays a crucial role in sound localization and integrating information from lower brainstem areas. It receives input from both ears and helps in determining the direction and location of sound sources. It also acts as a relay station, sending auditory information to higher brain regions, including the auditory cortex. Therefore, the inferior colliculus is involved in processing and integrating auditory information to facilitate sound localization and perception.

The scala media, also known as the cochlear duct, is separated from the scala tympani by the basilar membrane. The scala media contains the organ of Corti, which is responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain. The scala tympani, on the other hand, is one of the three fluid-filled chambers of the cochlea and is located below the scala media.

The bilateral auditory cortex is responsible for sound localization, which means it helps us determine the direction from which a sound is coming. This is an accurate match between the structure and its function because sound localization is one of the main functions of the auditory cortex.

The correct answer is that the link stretches or collapses, either of which activate the channels. This suggests that the movement of the cilia tips can cause the link between them to either stretch or collapse, and both of these actions can activate the ion channels. This implies that the opening of the ion channels is dependent on the mechanical movement of the cilia tips and the resulting changes in the link between them.