Critical Bands
Music 175: Ear Physiology
Auditory System Summary
Signal processing is done in the ears and in the auditory nervous system (the brain).
Each auditory nerve fiber responds over a certain range of frequencies (and sound pressures) but has a characteristic frequency at which it is most sensitive.
Two pure tones with frequencies 523 Hz and 1046 Hz (an octave apart) respectively, will each have a frequency response curve on the basilar membrane (i.e. an amplitude envelope).