Imagine that human neurons reach a maximum firing rate of 5000 impulses per second,rather than only 1000 impulses per second.Using the volley principle,this would mean that
A) place theory could explain the full range of human pitch perception.
B) neither frequency theory nor place theory could fully explain human pitch perception.
C) frequency theory could explain the full range of human pitch perception.
D) both place theory and frequency theory would be necessary to fully explain human pitch perception.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The volley principle states that groups of neurons can work together to fire in a pattern that produces a higher frequency than any individual neuron could produce on its own. If human neurons could reach a maximum firing rate of 5000 impulses per second, then the frequency theory could explain the full range of human pitch perception. This is because the frequency theory proposes that pitch perception is determined by the frequency of the neural impulses traveling up the auditory nerve, and if neurons can fire at a higher rate, then they can encode higher frequencies of sound. Place theory, on the other hand, proposes that pitch perception is determined by the location along the basilar membrane where the hair cells are stimulated, and would not be able to fully explain the full range of human pitch perception without taking the volley principle into account.

Imagine That Human Neurons Reach a Maximum Firing Rate of 5000