Neural code for sound localization at low frequencies

摘要

Several nuclei in the auditory pathway perform sound localization. At lower sound frequen- cies, they compute the interaural time difference. This difference is transduced by the dedicated neuronal circuit into a labeled line difference. The neurons of the circuit fire only when synaptic inputs from both ears arrive within a short time window. We have shown previously the minimum timing difference detectable in the linear model and in the Hodgkin-Huxley-type equations. To better describe the spike code for the sound localization we define a generalized vector strength for point processes. Based on calculations in single cell models, we show how the neural code is transformed depending on the main sound frequency.