1. © Richard Goldman October 9, 2006
Module 10 Hearing and Other Senses Chapter 3, Pages Essentials of Understanding Psychology- Sixth Edition PSY110 Psychology
© Richard Goldman
October 9, 2006

2. Ear Converts sound waves into nerve pulses Senses motion
Helps maintain balance

3. Ear Structure Outer Ear Inner Ear Oval window Cochlea Basilar membrane
Pinna
Auditory canal
Eardrum (Tympanic membrane)
Middle Ear
Ossicles (bones)
Hammer
Anvil
Stirrup
Eustachian tube
Inner Ear
Oval window
Cochlea Basilar membrane
Hair cells
Auditory nerve
Semicircular canals (3) – motion sensors
Otoliths- orientation & acceleration sensors

7. Orientation & Acceleration
Otoliths

8. Sound Compression wave (not transverse) that travels through a medium
Human can hear sound in the range of 20-20,000 Hz (cycles per second) – pitch
Amplitude – Intensity of sound – measured in decibels (a 10X logarithmic scale) – sounds greater than 120db is painful
Sensitivity –

9. Sound Waves

10. Sound Localization
Differences in intensity and time differences between sound reaching each ear help the brain determine what direction the sound came from

11. Theories of Hearing
Place Theory – Excitation of specific locations on the basilar is responsible for frequency discrimination
Frequency Theory – Excitation across the basilar membrane in sync with the sound is responsible for frequency discrimination

12. Hearing Loss Damage due to: My be corrected with:
Physical damage – cotton swab (Q-tip)
Illness – Mumps
Prolonged exposure to loud sound
Brief exposure to very loud sound
My be corrected with:
Hearing aid – auditory discrimination is often a problem
Cochlear implant

13. Deaf Culture
Some people believe that belonging to a deaf culture is just a good as belonging to a hearing culture.

14. Olfaction - Sense of Smell
Humans can detect > 10,000 separate smells
1,000 different specialized types of olfactory cells
Pheromones – secreted odors use to communicate

15. Gustation - Sense of Taste
Taste results from combinations of stimulating 4 different types of taste buds located on tongue, in mouth, and throat.
Sweet
Sour
Salty
Bitter
Humans have about 10,000 different taste buds
Each taste bud is replaced every 10 days

16. Interrelation of Taste and Smell
The perception of taste often relies on the perception of smell to identify a food substance

17. Skin Senses:
Touch
Pressure
Temperature
Pain

18. Pain
Gate-control theory - Pain is a perception under control of the brain
Treatments:
Medication
Electro stimulation of the nerve
Light Therapy
Hypnosis
Surgery
Cognitive Restructuring - Rewrite of the pain “script”