![]() ![]() The external component of the auditory system begins with the pinna. Our auditory system is a series of physical structures and nervous system components that are responsible for conveying sound waves into meaning and context. Physical Structures of the Auditory System: Outer Ear Larger amplitude waves are louder, whereas smaller amplitude waves are quieter. The amplitude of sound waves is measure from the peak of the wave to the trough and corresponds to how loud a sound is. Higher frequency sound waves have a higher pitch whereas lower frequency sounds waves have a lower pitch. The frequency of sound waves is measured as the number of peaks that occur over time and corresponds to the pitch of sound. Prolonged exposure to these high amplitude sound waves can lead to permanent damage to the auditory system resulting in hearing loss or tinnitus (a ringing in the ear, even in the absence of a sound stimulus).įigure 31.1. A rock concert or lawnmower is between 100 and 110 dB, which is right around the pain threshold. To give you an idea of approximate sound intensities, the background noise of a quiet library is about 40 dB, and a typical conversation is close to 60 dB. Amplitude, or “How much do the waves displace the medium from baseline?” The larger the amplitude of the wave, or the greater distance between the peak and the trough of the signal, the louder the sound is.On the opposite end of the spectrum, low frequency sounds are the deep rumbles of bass, and the human ear can hear sounds down in the 20 Hz range. People often tend to lose their high frequency hearing as they age. The highest notes humans are able to hear is around 20,000 Hz, a painfully-shrill sound for those who can hear it. Frequency, or “How often do the sound waves compress?” The greater the frequency, the higher the pitch.Two components of sound waves are frequency and amplitude. All sounds, from the clattering of a dropped metal pan to the melodies of a Mozart violin concerto, are contained in their corresponding sound waves. Before we get to the anatomical structures involved in sound perception, it is important to first understand the physical nature of sound waves. For us land animals, that medium is usually air, but sound waves can propagate very well in water or through solids. Unlike photons of light, sound waves are compressions and rarefactions of a medium. In this chapter we will trace how sounds travel through the structures of the ear, ultimately causing the auditory receptors to alter their activity and send their signals to the brain. We can detect the shape of air waves, and interpreting those signals give us sound information and the perception of music. Our nervous system is equipped with a variety of specialized biological “tools” that can detect much more than just photons of light. ![]()
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