Entracking neurons respond to amplitude modulation with rate scaling linearly with modulation frequency

Evidence

We have also observed entracking to sinusoidally amplitude modulated (SAM) tones. Figure 3G in Joris and Smith ( 2008 ) shows data at different SPLs over a range of modulation frequencies for one monaural neuron, recorded just laterally to the MSO, in an area which may correspond to the mLNTB (Spirou and Berrebi 1996 ). Similar to entracking to pure tones mentioned in the previous section, firing rate increased linearly with modulation frequency; was similar for the different SPLs tested; and declined steeply once an upper limit is reached. The CF of the neuron was 2.4 kHz, but the response to pure tones at CF was much lower than to low-frequency tones delivered in the tail of the tuning curve, to which the neuron entracked (Fig. 3C in Joris and Smith 2008 ). — Dijk, Pim van, Physiology, Psychoacoustics and…, 4515

Categorization

• QUESTION: The neuron’s best response at CF tail rather than at CF is puzzling — worth pursuing what tuning-curve-tail drive implies about how pitch information is routed.