The belief that the experience of pitch is related to alternate firing of groups of neurons along the basilar membrane is known as:

The correct answer relates to the volley principle, which posits that groups of neurons can fire in succession to capture the frequency of sound waves, thereby contributing to our perception of pitch. This principle works in conjunction with frequency theory, where it explains that individual neurons cannot fire at a rate high enough to match the frequency of very high-pitched sounds, but when grouped together, they can volley their action potentials to effectively encode pitch.

The volley principle is critical in understanding how we perceive sounds at various frequencies because it highlights the coordination among different neurons to create a composite representation of sound frequency. In this way, the brain is able to distinguish pitch more effectively than if each individual neuron were responsible for encoding sound frequencies alone.

Other theories, such as place theory, describe pitch perception based on the specific location along the basilar membrane that is stimulated. This option contrasts with the volley principle, which focuses on the timing of the neuron firing rather than a specific localization of sound. Similarly, gate-control theory pertains to the modulation of pain perception and does not apply to pitch perception. Therefore, the volley principle correctly addresses the physiological mechanism behind how we experience different pitches through the coordinated firing of groups of neurons.