Von Békésy’s tuning curves were broadened by post-mortem cochlear damage.

Evidence

Von Békésy’s studies used cadaver cochlea and high-level stimuli. As a result, he measured passive responses, reflecting purely mechanical properties of the BM. His measurements demonstrated broad tuning: a large portion of the BM was activated by a single sound. Modern in vivo measurements illustrate a much more narrowly tuned traveling wave, in that a pure tone vibrates many fewer basilar membrane locations (Narayan, Temchin, Recio, & Ruggero, 1998; Rhode, 1971; Sellick, Patuzzi, & Johnstone, 1982). Thus, in vivo, the cochlea provides a more frequency-specific representation than originally thought. Although von Békésy was unable to measure BM responses to a variety of stimulus levels, measurements down to levels of 10 dB SPL indicate that cochlear tuning is much sharper at low versus high levels (Robles, Ruggero, & Rich, 1986). — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 227 (#contradicts, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Live cochleas are much more sharply tuned than cadaver measurements suggested — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 227

Related

• Live cochleas are much more sharply tuned than cadaver measurements suggested (similarity 0.94)
• Basilar membrane tuning is sharper in living than dead cochleae (similarity 0.89)
• Early cochlear measurements were distorted by post-mortem damage (similarity 0.85)
• Psychoacoustic tuning curves directly reflect cochlear mechanical processing. (similarity 0.81)
• Psychoacoustic findings often lack known anatomical or physical mechanisms (similarity 0.79)
• Psychoacoustical tuning curves grow more asymmetric at higher test-tone levels (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• Live cochleas are much more sharply tuned than cadaver measurements suggested #contradicts (0.95) — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 227