Neural Information Processing In The Peripheral Auditory System Of The Guinea Pig

A number of first and second order neurons of the guinea pig auditory system were studied extensively in an attempt to determine the method by which information is conveyed. Single neuron electrophysiological techniques with anatomical controls were used in the study and in response to several different stimuli, various response patterns were observed. Statistical methods of analysis, using a digital computer, were employed. Each fiber in the auditory nerve appears to convey only fragmentary information; therefore, the information carried by a number of fibers is required to extract all the information about a single signal. The data suggest that a pulse density modulation system of encoding is used, in which the 'carrier' appears to be the irregular spontaneous background activity, the pulse density of which is actively increased and decreased to convey information about both pitch and loudness. The system appears to be much more sensitive to sound changes than to absolute values. For example, pulse density correlated far better with rate-of-change of stimulus intensity than with absolute levels of intensity. In addition to frequency and amplitude, the interval between successive stimuli may be an important parameter of stimulation.