Elsevier

Brain Research

Volume 327, Issues 1–2, 18 February 1985, Pages 331-335
Brain Research

Sensitivity of cat primary auditory cortex (Al) neurons to the direction and rate of frequency modulation

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(85)91530-6Get rights and content

Abstract

Responses of 65 single auditory cortex (AI) neurons to frequency-modulated (FM) sweeps with different rates and direction of frequency change were examined quantitatively. Most units responded differentially depending on the characteristics of the FM sweep stimulus. Sixty-five percent of the units encountered responded at least twice as well for one direction of the FM sweep as for the other direction. Of these direction selective neurons, 67% preferred downward-directed FM sweeps (i.e. changing from high to low frequencies) while only 33% preferred upward-directed FM sweeps. The preference for downward-directed FM sweeps was especially clear in EI cells. In addition, cortical neurons often displayed sensitivity to the rate of frequency modulation (speed sensitivity).

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This research was supported by MRC Grant MA7642 to M.S.C. and J. McNulty and NSERC Grant A9939 to M.S.C.

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We are grateful to Dr. R. Douglas for writing the invaluable computer programs used in these experiments. We would like to thank Dr. K.L. Grasse and Dr. D.P. Philips for their insightful comments and criticism of the manuscript. We thank Rhone Poulenc Pharmaceuticals for their generous donation of Flaxedil.

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