Final answer:
The temporal theory of pitch perception would have the most difficulty in explaining how we hear high pitch sounds. In contrast, the place theory suggests that different portions of the basilar membrane in the inner ear respond best to sounds of different frequencies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theory that would have the most difficulty in explaining how we hear high pitch sounds is the temporal theory of pitch perception.
According to the temporal theory, pitch is coded by the activity level of a sensory neuron. However, this theory cannot account for the broad range of frequencies that we can hear, as there is a limit to how fast a neuron can fire.
On the other hand, the place theory of pitch perception suggests that different portions of the basilar membrane in the inner ear respond best to sounds of different frequencies, with the base responding to high frequencies and the tip responding to low frequencies. This theory is supported by the orderly arrangement of hair cells on the basilar membrane.