Place in Hearing

Definition

Place in hearing refers to the perception of different pitches based on where the hair cells are stimulated along the basilar membrane in the inner ear. Different frequencies of sound waves activate different areas along the membrane, allowing us to distinguish between high and low-pitched sounds.

Related terms

Frequency Theory:

This theory suggests that our perception of pitch is determined by how fast or slow hair cells vibrate in response to sound waves.

Basilar Membrane:

The basilar membrane is a structure within the cochlea (inner ear) that contains hair cells responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals sent to the brain.

Tonotopic Organization: Tonotopic organization refers to how different regions of the auditory system respond to specific frequencies. It means that neighboring neurons or structures tend to have similar tuning properties and respond best to similar ranges of frequencies.