People can hear sound energies as small as random air-molecule motions. {hearing, intensity} {sound intensity}. Because oval window is smaller than eardrum, sound pressure increases in middle ear. Middle-ear bones increase sound intensity by acting as levers that convert distance into force.
distortion
High sound intensities can strain materials past their elastic limit, so intensity and/or frequency change.
frequency
For same stimulus-input energy, low-frequency tones sound louder, and high-frequency tones sound quieter. Smaller hair-cell hairs have faster vibrations and smaller amplitudes.
maximum sound
Maximum sound is when physical ear structures have inelastic strain, which stretches surface tissues past point to which they can completely return.
pain
Maximum sound causes pain.
rate
For amplitude 40 dB to 80 dB at frequency between 2000 Hz below and 50 Hz above characteristic frequency, maximum firing rate is 280 per second {rate saturation, hearing}.
temporal integration
If sound has constant intensity for less than 100 ms, perceived loudness decreases {temporal integration, hearing}. If sound has constant intensity for 100 ms to 300 ms, perceived loudness increases. If sound has constant intensity for longer than 300 ms, perceived loudness is constant.
At loud-sound onset, stapedius and tensor tympani muscles contract {acoustic reflex}, to dampen stapes and eardrum vibration.
Tones can rise quickly or slowly from background noise level to maximum intensity {attack, hearing}| {onset, hearing}. Fast onset sounds aggressive. Slow onset sounds peaceful.
Tones can fall slowly or rapidly from maximum to background noise level {decay, hearing} {offset, hearing}.
1-Consciousness-Sense-Hearing-Physiology
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Date Modified: 2022.0225