Sound that impinges on the inner ear and the auditory nerve arrives as a fairly meaningless stimulus. At this point, it should be viewed as:
a. perception.
b. sensation.
c. an auditory stimulus item.
d. free of environmental noise.
I think it is either a or b. I know that sensation is the activation of the sense organs by any source of physical energy. In contrast, perception is the process by which we sort out, interpret, analyze, and integrate stimuli to which our senses are exposed.
To determine the correct answer between "perception" or "sensation," we need to understand the concepts of perception and sensation in the context of sound and the inner ear.
Sensation refers to the initial process where sense organs are activated by physical energy, in this case, sound waves impinging on the inner ear and auditory nerve. So, considering the definition of sensation, it seems to be a plausible option.
On the other hand, perception involves the interpretation and analysis of sensory stimuli. It is the cognitive process where we make sense of the sensations we experience. So, perception goes beyond just the initial activation of the sense organs.
Now, let's consider the statement given in the question. It states that the sound arriving at the inner ear and auditory nerve is a "fairly meaningless stimulus." Based on this information, it can be concluded that the sound is at a preliminary stage where it lacks interpretation and analysis—meaning it has not yet reached the level of perception.
Therefore, the answer is b. sensation. The sound at this point should be viewed as a sensation, representing the activation of the sense organs by physical energy (in this case, sound waves).