frequency theory

Frequency theory suggests that our perception of pitch is determined by the rate at which auditory nerve fibers vibrate in response to a sound. When a sound wave hits, it causes tiny hair cells in the ear to fire impulses at a frequency matching the sound’s pitch. Essentially, higher-pitched sounds produce faster nerve firing, while lower-pitched sounds result in slower firing. This theory helps explain how we perceive pitches up to a certain range and works alongside other theories to give us the full experience of hearing different tones.