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Workshop on the Auditory Basis of Speech PerceptionKeele University, UK |
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Workshop on the Auditory Basis of Speech PerceptionKeele University, UK |
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We address the question of processing of fast acoustic signal components in the millisecond range by analyzing dynamic properties of cat auditory cortical neurons using a time-slice technique. We found evidence for profound time-variant receptive field properties. As a consequence, sharpness of tuning increased over time and asymmetries of the tuning properties became apparent that, with no exception, evolved late. Complex diagonal bands of activity across the frequency-intensity planes became visible which were found in equal proportions along the low or high frequency side of the tuning curves. All of these dynamic features were concealed in conventional time-averaged tuning curves. The results are discussed concerning a possible specific adaptation for processing of complex sounds as frequency transitions of formants and static slopes of formants in human speech resemble the properties observed during the temporal development of time-variant receptive field organization.
Bibliographic reference. Dinse, Hubert R. / Schreiner, Christoph E. (1996): "Dynamic frequency tuning of cat auditory cortical neurons: specific adaptations to the processing of complex sounds?", In ABSP-1996, 45-48.