We hear the pitch of low-frequency sounds by a different mechanism from the one we use for high-frequency sounds.

Question

We hear the pitch of low-frequency sounds by a different mechanism from the one we use for high-frequency sounds.​

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Low-frequency sounds are detected by the mechanism of temporal coding, where the individual neurons in the auditory nerve fire in response to the sound waves at the same rate as the frequency of the sound. High-frequency sounds, on the other hand, are detected by place coding, where different areas in the cochlea respond to different frequencies of sound. Therefore, the mechanisms are different for low-frequency and high-frequency sounds.

We Hear the Pitch of Low-Frequency Sounds by a Different