The organ of hearing is responsible
for the correct frequency analysis of auditory perceptions coming from the
outer environment. The article deals with the principles of the analysis of auditory perceptions in the cochlea only, i.e., from the overall signal leaving
the oval window to its decomposition realized by the basilar membrane. The
paper presents two different methods with the function of the cochlea
considered as a frequency analyzer of perceived acoustic signals.
First, there
is an analysis of the principle that cochlear function involves acoustic waves
travelling along the basilar membrane; this concept is one that prevails in the con temporary specialist literature. Then, a new principle with the working name
“the principle of standing acoustic waves in the common cavity of the scala
vestibuli and scala tympani” is presented and defined in depth. According to
this principle, individual structural modes of the basilar membrane are excited
by continuous standing waves of acoustic pressure in the scale tympani.
