Workshop on the Auditory Basis of Speech Perception Keele University, UK July 15-19, 1996

Adequacy of Auditory-Nerve Rate Representations Of Vowels: Comparison with Behavioral Measures in Cat

M. B. Sachs, B. J. May, G. S. Le Prell, R. D. Hienz

Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

Earlier results suggested that vowel spectra can be represented by profiles of discharge rate versus best frequency (BF) if the CNS performed a "selective listening" process. By this we mean that CNS responses are controlled by high spontaneous rate (SR) inputs at low sound levels and by low SR inputs at high levels. In this paper we review recent results which suggest that rate responses of high SR fibers alone may be adequate to represent vowels even at high levels. Predictions of formant frequency discrimination based on simple auditory-nerve models suggest that selective listening is only necessary for this task if the CNS makes decisions on the basis of rate responses of one or a very small number ox auditory-nerve fibers.

Full Paper

Bibliographic reference.  Sachs, M. B. / May, B. J. / Prell, G. S. Le / Hienz, R. D. (1996): "Adequacy of auditory-nerve rate representations of vowels: comparison with behavioral measures in cat", In ABSP-1996, 120-126.