The frequency theory of pitch perception is flawed because
A) structurally, it is impossible for the basilar membrane to vibrate.
B) neurons cannot fire fast enough to account for hearing tones higher than 1,000 cycles/second.
C) it places the transduction process in the semicircular canals and not the cochlea.
D) the action of the ossicles interacting with the auditory nerve was misidentified.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The frequency theory of pitch perception suggests that the frequency of a sound wave corresponds directly to the rate of firing of auditory neurons. However, research has shown that neurons cannot fire fast enough to account for the perception of tones higher than 1,000 cycles/second, rendering the theory flawed.

The Frequency Theory of Pitch Perception Is Flawed Because