Pitches are differentiated by the length and tension of the basilar membrane fibers.
Pitch discrimination results from the fact that the basilar membrane has different vibrational properties along its length, such that the base (nearest the oval window) vibrates most strongly to high frequency sounds, and the tip to low frequencies.
In the cochlea, sound frequency is represented and processed through a tonotopic map. This means that different frequencies of sound are processed in different regions of the cochlea, with higher frequencies being processed at the base and lower frequencies at the apex. This organization allows the brain to interpret the pitch of sounds based on the location of the activated hair cells in the cochlea.
cochlea
The basilar membrane within the cochlea is responsible for detecting different frequencies of sound. High frequency sounds cause vibrations near the base of the spiral-shaped cochlea, while low frequency sounds cause vibrations near the apex. This allows the brain to interpret different frequencies based on where the vibrations occur along the basilar membrane.
The hair cells inside the cochlea are of varying lengths to detect different frequencies of sound. Shorter hairs are sensitive to high-frequency sounds, while longer hairs are sensitive to low-frequency sounds. This organization allows us to perceive a wide range of pitches.
Different pitches vibrate the cochlea at different places
The cochlea detects different sound frequencies through the activation of hair cells sensitive to specific frequencies along its spiral structure. As sound waves travel through the cochlea, they cause different regions of the basilar membrane to vibrate depending on the frequency. This vibration is then translated into neural signals that the brain interprets as different pitches or frequencies.
The basal end of the cochlea is typically responsible for processing lower frequency sounds, such as those produced by a bass singer. The hair cells in this region are stimulated by the low-frequency vibrations, sending electrical signals to the brain for processing.
The cochlea is responsible for hearing and is filled with fluid. When the oval window vibrates the fluid in the inner ear moves around. The membrane inside the cochlea has different levels of thickness and the vibrations have different frequency and correspond to different pitches of sound that the ear interprets. The oval windows vibration frequency is transmitted through the fluid wave within the inner ear. The fluid crosses over the membrane, depending on the frequency and stimulates nerves that transmit a signal to the brain.
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cochlea of ear perceive and respond to various frequencies in sound...
The ear perceives frequency by detecting the rate of vibrations of sound waves. Different frequencies result in different pitches being perceived by the brain. The hair cells in the cochlea of the inner ear are responsible for converting these vibrations into neural signals that are sent to the brain for processing.