Question

Summary: MSO cares about? LSO cares about?

a) Timing cues; Intensity cues
b) Intensity cues; Timing cues
c) Both timing and intensity cues
d) Neither timing nor intensity cues

Answer 1

The MSO processes timing cues, which are differences in time of sound arrival at each ear, and the LSO processes intensity cues, which are differences in sound intensity at each ear. The correct answer is MSO cares about Timing cues; LSO cares about Intensity cues. The correct multiple-choice option is (c).

Step-by-step explanation:

The question refers to the functioning of the auditory system, specifically to how it locates the source of a sound. MSO (Medial Superior Olive) and LSO (Lateral Superior Olive) are parts of the auditory pathway in the brain that process different acoustic signals. The MSO primarily deals with timing cues, which assess the difference in the time that a sound reaches each ear, known as the interaural time difference (ITD). This is crucial for sound localization along the horizontal axis. On the other hand, the LSO is more involved with intensity cues, which deal with the difference in the loudness or intensity of a sound as heard by both ears, known as the interaural level difference (ILD). This also assists in the localization of sound, particularly in the vertical plane.

To answer the student's question directly, the correct option is: a) MSO cares about Timing cues; LSO cares about Intensity cues.