Frequency sorting in the basilar membrane can be reproduced in physical models

Evidence

The action of the basilar membrane can be thought of as being equivalent to a large number of overlapping band-pass filters, or a “bank” of band-pass filters, each responding to a particular band of frequencies (see Chapter 1). Based on the idealized filter response curve shape in Figure 2.10(a), an illustration of the nature of this bank of filters is given in Figure 2.10(b). Each filter has an asymmetric shape to its response, with a steeper roll-off on the high-frequency side than on the lowfrequency side; the bandwidth of a particular filter is given by the critical bandwidth (see Figure 2.8) for any particular center frequency. It is not possible to be particularly exact with regard to the extent to which the filters overlap. A common practical compromise, for example, in studio third octave graphic equalizer filter banks, is to overlap adjacent filters at the −3 dB points on their response curves. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 595 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Basilar membrane stiffness gradients create a frequency-to-place mapping; The basilar membrane’s mechanics enable the inner ear’s frequency analysis; Each basilar membrane location acts as a bandpass filter tuned to a center frequency — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 595

Related

• Basilar membrane stiffness gradients create a frequency-to-place mapping (similarity 0.95)
• The basilar membrane’s mechanics enable the inner ear’s frequency analysis (similarity 0.95)
• Each basilar membrane location acts as a bandpass filter tuned to a center frequency (similarity 0.92)
• Broad-spectrum sounds read as louder because auditory bands integrate across the basilar membrane (similarity 0.90)
• The auditory system acts as a band-pass filter at each signal frequency. (similarity 0.89)
• Basilar membrane displacement produces an asymmetric filter response across frequency. (similarity 0.89)
• The ear functions as a bank of frequency-selective filters tuned to basilar membrane places (similarity 0.88)
• Frequency discrimination depends on basilar membrane displacement separation (similarity 0.87)
• The basilar membrane’s tapering shape enables it to sort sounds by frequency. (similarity 0.87)
• The ear analyzes frequencies by location along the basilar membrane. (similarity 0.86)
• The basilar membrane’s fixed-spread frequency resolution shrinks relative bandwidth as frequency rises (similarity 0.82)
• Basilar-membrane frequency sorting is too crude to explain our pitch discrimination (similarity 0.82)
• Hearing two tones as separate requires separate basilar membrane peaks (similarity 0.82)
• The inner ear can be modeled as an array of asymmetrical overlapping bandpass filters. (similarity 0.82)
• Just-noticeable frequency shifts map to constant basilar distances (similarity 0.82)

Broader Connections

• Basilar membrane stiffness gradients create a frequency-to-place mapping #corroborates (0.85)
• The basilar membrane’s mechanics enable the inner ear’s frequency analysis #corroborates (0.80)
• Each basilar membrane location acts as a bandpass filter tuned to a center frequency #corroborates (0.78) — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 595