Question

During temporal coding of sounds, transduction is accomplished as _____ hair cells fire in phase at the _____ of the sound wave.

A. Inner, peak
B. Inner, trough
C. Outer, peak
D. Outer, trough
E. None of the above

Answer 1

The correct answer is A. Inner, peak, as inner hair cells are the primary auditory receptors that transduce sound waves into electrical signals at the peak of these waves.

Step-by-step explanation:

During temporal coding of sounds, transduction is accomplished as inner hair cells fire in phase at the peak of the sound wave. Therefore, the correct answer is A. Inner, peak. Inner hair cells are the primary auditory receptors and are responsible for conveying auditory information to the brain. They transduce the mechanical energy of sound waves into electrical signals that the brain interprets as sound. These cells synapse with afferent neurons, which transmit the auditory signals to the brain for processing. Outer hair cells, in contrast, function primarily to fine-tune the precision of sound by amplifying certain frequencies within the cochlea.

Answer 2

Inner hair cells located in the organ Corti of the inner ear fire at the peak of a sound wave to transduce auditory information to the brain.

Step-by-step explanation:

The process of transducing sound waves into neural signals is facilitated by hair cells within the organ of Corti, located in the inner ear. During this process of temporal coding, the question refers to when certain hair cells fire in response to sound waves. The correct answer to the question is A. Inner, peak, signifying that the inner hair cells fire in phase at the peak of the sound wave.

Inner hair cells are the primary auditory receptors and are crucial for conveying auditory information to the brain. Their stereocilia extend into small dimples on the tectorial membrane's lower surface. These cells are responsible for transduction, as they convert mechanical energy into electrical signals that are sent to the brain via the cochlear nerve.