Auditory nerve phase locking fails at high frequencies, leaving only the place code

Evidence

The results showed that, on average, subjects selected similar frequencies in a musical interval adjustment task irrespective of whether the reference tone was a ZT or an equally salient pure tone. The adjusted frequencies were slightly flat in both cases. This might partly result from subjects’ bias towards a “just scale” with musical intervals corresponding to integer ratios of 6/5 and 3/2 for the minor third and the perfect fifth, respectively. If this was the only underlying reason, the “bias” should have been larger for the minor third than for the perfect fifth, which was not observed. The SDs of the musical interval adjustments were only slightly larger (a factor of 1.1–2.2) for the ZTs than for the PTs, with no increase in listening time. Thus, overall the results suggest that a weak musical pitch can exist in the absence of peripheral phase locking. — Dijk, Pim van, Physiology, Psychoacoustics and…, 5420 (#qualifies, via linked claim)

We know that listeners with SNHL have disruptions to the place code, particularly in the form of reduced frequency selectivity. Consequently, to the extent that the place code is responsible for the pitch of sounds, disruptions to pitch perception are expected. Further, we can measure the amount of disruption to the place code in listeners with hearing loss, using our tools to measure frequency selectivity. Broadening of frequency selectivity would impact the ability of listeners with hearing loss to select resolved harmonic peaks, thereby impacting pitch perception. Psychophysical experiments also have demonstrated disruption to the temporal code in listeners with hearing loss (Hopkins & Moore, 2011), suggesting that hearing impairment may alter both the place and temporal codes for pitch. — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 1326 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Hearing impairment disrupts both place and temporal pitch codes — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 1326; Phase locking fails above 5 kHz, so high-pitch perception relies on place theory; Weak musical pitch perception can persist without peripheral phase locking. — Dijk, Pim van, Physiology, Psychoacoustics and…, 5420 (+1 more)

Related

• Hearing loss disrupts pitch via place, temporal, and interaural mechanisms. (similarity 0.88)
• Weak musical pitch perception can persist without peripheral phase locking. (similarity 0.88)
• Phase invariance of pitch might arise from some neurons always entracking (similarity 0.88)
• Hearing impairment disrupts both place and temporal pitch codes (similarity 0.87)
• Experienced listeners preserve octave judgment precision at 5 kHz where phase locking degrades. (similarity 0.87)
• Sloping or rising hearing loss can create contradictory pitch codes across frequency regions (similarity 0.86)
• Low-frequency pitch judgments reflect temporal fine structure via neural phase locking (similarity 0.85)
• A weak musical pitch can exist without peripheral phase locking. (similarity 0.85)
• Phase locking fails above 5 kHz, so high-pitch perception relies on place theory (similarity 0.84)
• Simulation refractory periods do not capture real auditory phase-locking constraints (similarity 0.84)
• Musically trained listeners judge ZT musical intervals accurately despite missing phase locking. (similarity 0.84)
• Phase-locked neural timing underlies musical pitch and is limited above 4-5 kHz. (similarity 0.84)
• Auditory nerve phase locking degrades above 1500 Hz and is weak above 4 kHz (similarity 0.83)
• Place coding of fundamental pitch fails at high frequencies when harmonics smear together (similarity 0.83)
• FDL findings compromise a purely temporal account of low-frequency pitch. (similarity 0.83)

Broader Connections

• Phase locking fails above 5 kHz, so high-pitch perception relies on place theory #corroborates (0.95)
• Hearing impairment disrupts both place and temporal pitch codes #expands (0.80) — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 1326
• Weak musical pitch perception can persist without peripheral phase locking. #qualifies (0.80) — Dijk, Pim van, Physiology, Psychoacoustics and…, 5420
• Auditory neuropathy disrupts nerve firing synchrony while preserving cochlear amplification #complicates (0.75)