According to the Place Theory of Hearing, how does the brain perceive different pitches of sound?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Clarifying the question: We are asked about the Place Theory of Hearing and how the brain perceives different pitches of sound, given a set of answer options.
Option 1: 'The brain perceives different pitches by measuring the amplitude of sound waves.' This is not aligned with the Place Theory. Amplitude relates to loudness, not pitch, and Place Theory ties pitch to where along the basilar membrane the vibration occurs rather than to amplitude measurements. Therefore this option reflects a confusion with loudness or intensity rather than pitch perception.
Option 2: 'The brain perceives sound based on the frequency of vibrations in the eardrum.' While tympanic membrane vibrations are essential for transduction, the Place Theory specifically ties pitch to the location of stimulation on the basilar membrane, not the frequency of eardrum vibration alone. This option conflates peripheral mechanics with the specific locus-based coding proposed by Place Theory.
Option 3: 'The brain determines pitch based on which area of the basilar membrane is stimulated by sound waves.' This directly captures the essence of the Place Theory: different frequencies produce maximal vibration at particular locations along the basilar membrane, and the brain interprets pitch by identifying the site of maximal stimulation. This is the core idea of Place Theory.
Option 4: 'The brain interprets pitch through the rhythm of sound waves hitting the cochlea.' This description aligns more with temporal coding or volley theories that emphasize timing patterns and phase locking rather than the spatial mapping emphasized by Place Theory. It does not accurately describe the Place Theory’s mechanism for pitch perception.
In summary, option 3 correctly reflects the Place Theory by attributing pitch perception to the specific region on the basilar membrane that is stimulated, whereas the other options either confuse pitch with amplitude (loudness), misattribute the mechanism to the eardrum or timing rhythms, or describe aspects more pertinent to temporal coding approaches rather than the spatial mapping central to Place Theory.

PSY 1001 (001) Exam 1

According to the Place Theory of Hearing, how does the brain perceive different pitches of sound?

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