Final answer:
Different hair cells within the cochlea are responsive to various sound frequencies, enabling pitch perception based on their position along the basilar membrane, as explained by the place theory.
Step-by-step explanation:
Within the cochlea, different hair cells respond to different sound frequencies (pitches). These hair cells are arranged along the basilar membrane in the cochlear duct and are each sensitive to a specific frequency due to their position. Low frequency sounds stimulate hair cells at the apex of the cochlea, while high-frequency sounds activate those near the base, close to the round and oval windows. Understanding the activation of hair cells in relation to pitch and frequency relies on place theory, a model that helps explain how pitch detection works in the human ear. By encoding specific frequencies at certain locations along the basilar membrane, similarly to how a piano's keys produce different frequencies, the cochlea separates auditory stimuli by frequency, allowing for pitch perception. The brain then interprets these signals to give meaning to sounds, such as music or speech.