Final answer:
A potential challenge in the cochlear mechanism is the variation in the stiffness and width of the basilar membrane, which affects its vibration in response to different sound frequencies and is crucial for sound transduction by the organ of Corti.
Step-by-step explanation:
One potential challenge or inconsistency in the cochlear mechanism and the perception of sound is related to A) the stiffness and width of the basilar membrane. The mechanical properties of the basilar membrane change along its length, impacting how it vibrates in response to sound waves of different frequencies. High frequency sounds stimulate the basilar membrane closer to the base where it is taut and narrow, whereas lower frequency sounds affect the membrane nearer the apex where it is wider and more flexible. The basilar membrane is integral in the process of sound transduction as it supports the organ of Corti, which contains the inner and outer hair cells that are responsible for converting mechanical waves into neural signals that the brain interprets as sound.
The precise way that the oval and round windows of the cochlea facilitate the transmission of sound vibration into the fluid-filled cochlea, how the movement of the basilar membrane is subsequently translated into neural signals by the hair cells of the organ of Corti, and the role of the scala tympani and scala vestibuli in this process are all critical. The inner hair cells are primarily responsible for auditory reception and are activated by sound wave-induced movement of the basilar membrane. The distinction in activation patterns across the basilar membrane's spatial gradient is central to how we perceive different pitches according to the place theory of hearing.