States that each frequency causes vibrations at a particular place on the basilar membrane.
Von Békésy (1960) observed a traveling wave on the basilar membrane in cadavers.
High-frequency vibrations maximally displace the basilar membrane near the oval window.
Low-frequency vibrations maximally displace areas closer to the cochlea's tip.
Explains: High-frequency sounds effectively.
Limitation: Fails to adequately explain low-frequency sounds, as they cause large, less precise displacement of the membrane.
Frequency Theory
States that the perception of a sound's frequency depends on how often the auditory nerve fires.
Higher frequency sounds cause the auditory nerve to fire more often.
Limitation: A single neuron has a maximum firing rate of approximately 1000 times per second, making it unable to account for tones with frequencies requiring more rapid firing.