Can cochlear maps predict behavioral performance in frequency analysis in mammals and birds

A modification of a cochlear position‐frequency map function [D. D. Greenwood, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 33, 1344–1356 (1961)] permits tentative maps to be constructed for mammals and birds using two species parameters: basilar membrane length and the upper frequency hearing limit. The slope of the map function (Hz/mm) estimates the form of the critical bandwidth (and other behaviorally equivalent units of frequency analysis) function of frequency once the critical cochlear distance (CD) corresponding to a critical band (or other unit) is known. Fits of the slope function to critical bands, critical masking ratio bands, frequency discrimination thresholds, and psychophysical tuning curve widths for 10 mammal and 12 bird species estimate respective CDs, and support the notions that: (1) Most mammal and bird cochleas analyze frequency similarly, (2) CDs are about equal for middle frequencies within a species, and (3) the various behavioral measures of frequency analysis are related. The hypothesis that critical b...