Question

Steven's Quantal Theory states that:

a. we perceive speech sounds as if there was a distinct boundary line between the acoustic signals of two phonemes
b. a small change in articulatory posture can cause a large change in the acoustic signal
c. refers to the perception of vowel sounds only
d. all of the above

Answer 1

Steven's Quantal Theory deals with the perception of speech sounds and the distinct boundaries between phonemes. It relates to pitch perception theories, which explain how the auditory system codes frequency through neuron action potentials and hair cell location on the basilar membrane.

Step-by-step explanation:

Steven's Quantal Theory posits that speech sounds are perceived with distinct boundaries between phonemes, implying a binary perception rather than a continuum. This theory can be related to the broader discussion of pitch perception, which involves both the temporal theory and the place theory. These theories explain how various frequencies of sound waves are associated with differences in pitch perception. The temporal theory suggests that the frequency of a sound wave is coded by the rate of action potentials of auditory neuron firing. However, this alone cannot account for the broad range of sounds we can perceive. Therefore, the place theory complements this by suggesting that different locations on the basilar membrane correspond to different frequencies, allowing for a more extensive range of pitch perception.

Furthermore, pitch perception and sound localization are critical aspects of hearing. We rely on both the firing rate of hair cells and their location within the basilar membrane to perceive pitch, while monaural and binaural cues help us localize the origins of sounds in our environment.