Which theory explains the perception of sounds between 1,000 and 4,000 cycles per second?

The volley principle is particularly relevant for understanding how sounds in the range of 1,000 to 4,000 cycles per second are perceived. This theory suggests that groups of neurons can fire in a coordinated manner, allowing the auditory system to process higher frequencies by having multiple neurons work together. This way, even if a single neuron can only fire at a certain rate, groups of neurons can effectively increase the overall firing rate, which is crucial for frequencies that are particularly challenging for individual neurons to encode.

In contrast to the volley principle, the place theory primarily applies to higher frequencies beyond 4,000 cycles per second, where different frequencies stimulate different places along the cochlea. Frequency theory focuses on how the frequency of neuron firing corresponds directly to the frequency of the sound wave, but this mechanism becomes less effective at higher frequencies. Lastly, the trichromatic theory is unrelated, as it pertains to color vision rather than auditory perception. Thus, the volley principle effectively explains how we perceive sounds within the specified frequency range, making it the most relevant choice.