The relationship between time and place coding with cochlear implants with long electrode arrays

The auditory system can theoretically encode frequencies by either the rate or place of stimulation within the cochlea. Previous work with cochlear implants has demonstrated that both changes in timing and place can be described as pitch changes but are perceptually orthogonal. Using multidimensional scaling, the present experiment extends the previous findings that timing and place changes are perceptually orthogonal into the cochlear apex using long 31-mm electrode arrays. However, temporal cues seem to be more reliable across subjects at the apex while place cues seem to be more reliable at the middle of the cochlea.