The profile of neural excitation pattern along the cochlea produced by a longitudinally oriented bipolar electrode pair was estimated by forward masking. Two types of masking patterns were observed. The first was produced by electrode pairs with low (behavorial) threshold currents, and displayed two peaks approximately located above the two electrodes of the bipolar pair. The second was produced by pairs with higher threshold, and displayed a single peak approximately midway between the two electrodes. These masking patterns are similar to the two types of current distribution patterns observed in a tank model consisting of a 22‐banded electrode array fixed into a normal saline filled tube of 5 mm diameter. It is possible that the bipolar pairs with lower threshold and double‐peaked masking patterns are situated closer to the residual auditory fibers and neurons. In another study, the masking patterns for two bipolar electrode pairs interleavely stimulated were found to follow approximately the maximum of the two masking patterns for the two electrode pairs activated in isolation.