A physiological model for the stimulus dependence of first-spike latency of auditory-nerve fibers.
Recent studies have shown a close correspondence between perceptual detection thresholds for sounds in quiet and a measure of neuronal thresholds derived from the stimulus-dependent timing of the first spike of auditory-nerve fibers. In addition, stimulus properties might be encoded by differences in first-spike timing of neurons in the central auditory system. Therefore, the physiological mechanisms underlying first-spike timing are of considerable interest, but are not thoroughly understood. Here, we present a physiological model which accurately explains the observed stimulus dependence of the first-spike latency of auditory-nerve fibers with a minimum number of physiologically plausible parameters. Two of the 5 parameters can be considered constant (at least for the vast majority of fibers), while the other 3 vary in meaningful ways with the fibers' spontaneous discharge rates. The elements of the model and some implications are discussed.
Neubauer
Heinrich
H
Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Brenneckestrasse 6, 39118 Magdeburg, Germany.
Heil
Peter
P
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D002415:Cats; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology