FREQUENCY THEORY

Definition:

Frequency theory, also known as the tonotopic theory, is a concept in auditory perception that postulates that the perception of sound pitch is determined by the frequency at which the auditory nerve fibers are firing.

Key Points:

• The frequency theory proposes that the pitch of a sound is directly related to the rate of neural impulses generated by the basilar membrane in response to the sound wave.
• According to this theory, low-frequency sounds produce slower neural firing rates, while high-frequency sounds generate higher firing rates.
• Neurons in the auditory system are able to encode different frequencies by synchronizing their firing patterns with the periodicity of the sound wave.
• Frequency theory is most applicable to explain the perception of low-frequency sounds, as the upper limit of neural firing rate imposes constraints on the pitch discrimination of high-frequency sounds.
• While frequency theory provides insights into how the brain processes sound pitch, it is not sufficient to account for all aspects of auditory perception, and other theories such as place theory complement its explanations.