Functional characteristics of superior olivary neurons to binaural stimuli

Abstract

This investigation was undertaken to study the timing properties of low-frequency binaural neurons located in the medulla of kangaroo rat (Dipodomys spectabilis). The results show that the response variables, vector strength (VS) and discharge rate (DR), are not necessarily related responses; each may be conveying a different parameter of acoustic stimuli. The results also lead to the conclusion that binaural low-frequency neurons, whether they are excitatory-excitatory (EE) or excitatory-inhibitory (EI), in essence, function similarly. Finally, this investigation presents findings which suggest that a clock, which may be part of a mechanism for pitch as well as for spatial localization, is activated by sounds, providing thereby a reference signal for neural discharges.