Movements of the basilar membrane and associated cochlear structures give rise to changes in the amount of neural activity measured in first‐order neurons. “Upward” displacements result in increased activity and “downward” displacements in reduced activity. Such changes should be reflected in listening performance as the cochlear duct is moved in the two opposing directions. A detection study designed to investigate differences in audibility resulting from membrane displacement (Deatherage and Henderson, J. Acoust. Soc. Amer.42, 438–440 (1967)] gave results that appeared contrary to these general principles of peripheral transduction. The idea of a 90° phase shift on the basilar membrane and of a time lag between traveling waves are here suggested. These considerations make the psychoacoustic results more compatible with present notions concerning membrane displacement and neural activity.