An auditory-nerve model for interaural time discrimination of high-frequency complex stimuli

Abstract

Recent data on interaural time discrimination of high-frequency complex stimuli are described by a model based on auditory-nerve activity. This model is a simple extension of a model that was developed for detection and discrimination of low-frequency stimuli and that includes an explicit description of the activity in the auditory-nerve fibers. In the extension to high frequencies it is assumed, consistent with available physiological data, that the high-frequency neurons have instantaneous firing rates that follow the envelope of the tuning-curve filtered signal. Beyond the auditory nerve description, the model assumes a structure for processing timing information on high-frequency fibers that is the same as the structure for low frequencies. [Work supported by NIH.]