Helmholtz's Theory of Hearing

Helmholtz proposed the resonator theory of hearing, according to which the human ear acts as a resonator tuned to certain frequencies. According to this theory, the eardrum and auditory ossicles convert sound waves into mechanical vibrations of the fluid in the cochlea. The cochlea contains resonators tuned to different frequencies that amplify certain frequencies of sound. Stimulation of resonators tuned to the frequency of the sound wave is perceived as a sensation of pitch.

Thus, according to Helmholtz's theory, hearing is based on the resonant properties of the cochlea, which makes it possible to isolate individual frequency components of a complex sound signal. This theory provided the first scientific explanation of the mechanism of perception of pitch and laid the foundations for modern ideas about the operation of the auditory system.

Helmholtz did not write directly about the theory of hearing, but he studied human physiology and anatomy, including human hearing abilities. This is how he himself described this theory in one of his scientific works:

“A very large role in hearing acuity in humans belongs to the wall of the external auditory canal, which is even more noticeable in comparison with a dog and a horse. As in other parts of the ear, here a person has the most space between