Pitch arises from where along the cochlea a sound maximally stimulates

Evidence

The place code is effectively a spectral model that posits that frequency of a sound is coded in terms of the place of stimulation in the auditory pathway. This code is rooted in the idea that the ear functions as a Fourier analyzer, with different locations on the basilar membrane (or different neurons) responding to different frequencies. In its simplest form, the place of maximum stimulation determines the pitch (Helmholtz, 1863). In more complex versions, the pattern of excitation determines the pitch in terms of the multiple locations maximally stimulated by harmonics (e.g., Goldstein, 1973). — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 1198

Categorization

• DEFINE: Establishes the core definition of the place code and its two forms: simple (Helmholtz peak location) and pattern-based (harmonic peaks).
• XREF: The Fourier-analyzer ear concept echoes how signal processing and cochlear modeling work in related auditory science reading.