The study investigates the relative importance of envelope and fine structure in auditory perception through the use of "auditory chimaeras," which are synthesized stimuli that combine the envelope of one sound with the fine structure of another. The researchers found that the envelope is crucial for speech reception, while the fine structure is essential for pitch perception and sound localization. When both features conflict, speech is perceived based on the fine structure, but the words are identified using the envelope. This finding supports the hypothesis of separate "what" and "where" pathways in the auditory cortex. The study also suggests that improving the representation of fine structure in cochlear implants could enhance pitch perception and sensitivity to interaural time differences, potentially benefiting music appreciation and speech reception in tonal languages.The study investigates the relative importance of envelope and fine structure in auditory perception through the use of "auditory chimaeras," which are synthesized stimuli that combine the envelope of one sound with the fine structure of another. The researchers found that the envelope is crucial for speech reception, while the fine structure is essential for pitch perception and sound localization. When both features conflict, speech is perceived based on the fine structure, but the words are identified using the envelope. This finding supports the hypothesis of separate "what" and "where" pathways in the auditory cortex. The study also suggests that improving the representation of fine structure in cochlear implants could enhance pitch perception and sensitivity to interaural time differences, potentially benefiting music appreciation and speech reception in tonal languages.