Elsevier

Brain Research

Volume 75, Issue 2, 26 July 1974, Pages 203-214
Brain Research

Neural encoding of sound location: An electrophysiological study in auditory cortex (AI) of the cat using free field stimuli

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(74)90742-2Get rights and content

Summary

The response of single neurons in the primary auditory cortex (AI) of the cat to free field stimuli were studied. The results reveal that many neurons are differentially sensitive, in terms of both the magnitude and temporal pattern of the response, to the location, intensity, and type of stimulus. However, it appears that an individual neuron's response is equivocal with respect to the nature of the stimulus since the tuning of each neuron was very broad across each of these parameters, and since variations in one parameter could alter neural responses to another parameter.

The results of the present investigation, in light of other studies discussed, suggest that the auditory cortex may indeed be the ‘integrative center’ for the cues for auditory localization. In addition, that the representation of auditory space is best accomplished by a response pattern across a population of neurons was supported by deriving the localization just noticeable difference (jnd) function from the data treated as across-fiber patterns.

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    Present address: Department of Neuropathology, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, N.Y. 10032, U.S.A.

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