Question

Johannes Muller, in the first modern text book on physiology, proposed the "Doctrine of specific nerve energies" However the version of the doctrine held by Muller is very different than the one held today.

• Describe Helmholtz' place-resonance theory of pitch discrimination and compare it the frequency theory.

Answer 1

Helmholtz' place resonance theory:

It is a theory of hearing which explains that an individual's auditory stimulus perception is based the location where component frequency generates vibrations in the basilar membrane. That is, characteristics of a sound is perceived depending on where the vibration occurs. Therefore, pitch discrimination is based on perceiving on which part of the membrane the vibration occurs.

Frequency theory:

This theory was proposed as an alternative to the place theory. It states that it is inefficient to break sounds and recreate it in the brain and that every auditory cell will be stimulated on perceiving a stimulus. This theory had more evidences than the place theory.