What theory explains how our brain interprets pitch based on stimulation of different locations within the cochlea?

Place theory is the concept that explains how our brain interprets pitch by relating it to the specific locations within the cochlea that are stimulated by sound waves. According to this theory, different frequencies of sound activate different areas along the basilar membrane of the cochlea. High-frequency sounds stimulate the base (the part nearest to the oval window), while low-frequency sounds stimulate the apex (the farthest part from the oval window). This spatial arrangement of stimulation allows the brain to identify and interpret various pitches based on which part of the cochlea is activated.

In contrast to place theory, other theories discussed such as opponent process theory, which is related to color perception and does not apply to pitch interpretation, or the Young-Helmholtz Trichromatic theory, which explains how we perceive color through the combination of three types of cones in the retina, are not relevant to auditory processing. Signal detection theory, on the other hand, focuses on how we distinguish between a stimulus and noise, rather than how specific pitches are perceived in relation to cochlear stimulation.