A neural map of auditory space in the owl

Science. 1978 May 19;200(4343):795-7. doi: 10.1126/science.644324.

Abstract

Auditory units that responded to sound only when it originated from a limited area of space were found in the lateral and anterior portions of the midbrain auditory nucleus of the owl (Tyto alba). The areas of space to which these units responded (their receptive fields) were largely independent of the nature and intensity of the sound stimulus. The units were arranged systematically within the midbrain auditory nucleus according to the relative locations of their receptive fields, thus creating a physiological map of auditory space.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials
  • Animals
  • Auditory Perception / physiology*
  • Birds / anatomy & histology
  • Birds / physiology*
  • Brain Mapping
  • Mesencephalon / cytology
  • Mesencephalon / physiology*