Sympathetic resonance theory of hearing dates to Aristotle about 350 BCE

Evidence

The idea that hearing is based on sympathetic resonance goes back at least to Aristotle, around 350 BCE. Two lyres do not have to be of the same size in order for one to excite the other: they only have to be tuned to the same frequency. For weakly coupled bodies like two lyres, high-Q resonances are necessary, which in effect buys the receiving lyre time to store the energy that is slowly arriving from the sender (because of the weak coupling). — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 1976

Categorization

• DEFINE: Explains the core concept of sympathetic resonance — same frequency, not same size — and why high-Q is needed for weak coupling.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 1976
• XREF: connects to: Cochlear resonance and tonotopic pitch mapping were theorized as early as 1683; On resonance, releasing sound reduces its loudness; A pianoforte with raised dampers can physically re-echo sung vowels via sympathetic resonance

Broader Connections

• A pianoforte with raised dampers can physically re-echo sung vowels via sympathetic resonance #exemplifies (0.85)
• On resonance, releasing sound reduces its loudness #exemplifies (0.72)