source file: m1461.txt
Date: Sun, 28 Jun 1998 10:15:29 +0000

Subject: Re: Basilar membrane

From: Gary Morrison <mr88cet@texas.net>

Carl Lumma wrote:
> My question is: Does anybody know how the basilar membrane works?  I
> thought that a given spot on it was sensitive to a particular frequency

   That's the ol' Helmholzian "place" theory.  There have been more
recent studies that suggest that lower frequencies are perceived very
differently from higher ones.  

   I certainly don't claim to be an expert on the topic though.  Brian
McLaren has surveyed a LOT of recent literature on the topic.