Final answer:
Temporal coding theory involves hair cells on the basilar membrane which fire action potentials at different rates to communicate sound frequency, with the temporal theory of pitch perception relating a sound's frequency to a neuron's activity level. Together with place theory, it helps explain our ability to perceive a wide range of pitch.
Step-by-step explanation:
Temporal coding theory is based on the observation that hair cells become differentiated with the movement of the basilar membrane in response to a sound wave. The action potential rate will then communicate the frequency of the sound.
Temporal theory of pitch perception posits that a sound's frequency is coded by the activity level of a sensory neuron. In simpler terms, the frequency of the sound wave determines the rate at which these hair cells will fire action potentials. However, because each neuron has a limit to how fast it can fire these signals, this theory cannot explain the perception of extremely high frequencies alone. This is where place theory complements temporal theory, which states that specific hair cells along the cochlea respond to specific frequencies. For instance, hair cells at the base of the cochlea are activated by high frequencies, while those at the apex respond to low frequencies.
Together, temporal and place theories explain that both the fire rate of action potentials and the specific location of stimulation on the cochlea contribute to our ability to perceive a wide range of pitch up to about 4000 Hz. Higher frequencies are predominantly encoded using place cues, as the temporal code is limited by the refractory period of neurons.