| Theory | Explanation of Pitch Perception |
|---|---|
| Place theory | There is a specific location along the basilar membrane that will maximally respond to a particular frequency, thereby indicating the pitch to the brain |
| Frequency theory | The frequency of the sound wave is mimicked by the firing rate of the entire basilar membrane, thereby indicating the pitch to the brain |
| Composite theory | Lower frequencies (< 500 Hz) are processed according to frequency theory, higher frequencies (> 5,000 Hz) are processed according to place theory, and for frequencies between from 500 to 5,000 Hz, both theories are working |