Neural feedback restores sharp frequency resolution that hair cells lack on their own

Evidence

Helmholtz was wrong about hair cells being little high-Q resonators on their own, but neural feedback effectively makes them capable of sharp frequency resolution anyway. It seems likely that Helmholtz was also wrong about the importance of mechanical nonlinear effects, but this too may be rescued by nonlinear neural feedback—that is, otoacoustic emissions. — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 2291

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to nonlinear sound phenomena and combination-tone mechanisms discussed across earlier chapters on pitch perception.