On the precision of neural computation with interaural time differences in the medial superior olive

TL;DR

This paper provides analytical estimates and detailed modeling of spike train parameters in the medial superior olive, elucidating how neural timing precision affects sound localization via interaural time differences.

Contribution

It offers the first detailed analytical estimates of neural coding parameters in the auditory pathway, incorporating spike timing jitter and variability based on physiological data.

Findings

Optimal neuronal signaling parameters identified using just noticeable difference.

Quantitative estimates of spike timing jitter and their impact on sound localization.

Parameter bounds and variability discussed for neural coding accuracy.

Abstract

Incoming sound is in cochlea and auditory nerve encoded into spike trains. At the third neuron of the auditory pathway, spike trains of the left and right sides are processed in brainstem nuclei to yield sound localization information. Two different localization encoding mechanisms are employed in two centers for low and high sound frequencies in the brainstem. The centers are superior olivary nuclei, medial and lateral. This paper contains analytical estimates of parameters needed in description of auditory coding in sound localization neural circuit. Our model spike trains are based on electro-physiological recordings. We arrive to best estimates for neuronal signaling with the use of just noticeable difference of the ideal observer. We describe spike timing jitter and its role in the spike train processing. All parameters are accompanied with detailed estimates of their values and variability. Intervals bounding all the parameter from lower and higher values are discussed.