The brainstem may convert interspike intervals directly into firing rates

Evidence

The main goal of this chapter is to introduce a new way of thinking about pitch coding, grounded in CNS physiology. If there is a robust representation of pitch in the dominant ISI distribution in the AN (Cariani and Delgutte 1996a , 1996b ), and if some neurons convert ISI directly into a corresponding firing rate, then it seems possible that the dominant ISI interval is coded as predominant firing rate. — Dijk, Pim van, Physiology, Psychoacoustics and…, 4494