Short Communication Covariation of latency and temporal resolution in the inferior colliculus of the cat

Coleman Lrrboratory, HSE 871, Unwersiiy of California in San Franctsco, San Francisco, Cahf5nia, U.S.A. and ’ Zoologisches Inslitut der Technischen Hochschule Darmstadt, 6100 Darmstadt. F. R. G. (Received 18 February 1987; accepted 30 August 1987) Onset latency of single-unit and multiunit responses yas measured in the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (ICC) of barbiturate anesthetized cats. The relationship of the umts’ onset latency with their characteristic frequency (CF). their best modulation frequency (BMF), and their location within the ICC was studied. Latencies were significantly correlated to BMF; they were only weakly correlated to CF. The contribution of CF to the delays can be attributed to the traveling wave mechanism; covariation of latency and temporal resolution (BMF) likely manifests neuronal mechanisms underlying periodicity coding. Auditory system; Midbrain; Amplitude modulation: Periodicity coding; (Mammal)