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Electrical responses to two clicks: A simple statistical interpretation

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Abstract

A probability model for the amplitude of the first neural component,N 1, of the click response has been developed on the assumption thatN 1 is the summated effect of practically simultaneous firing from large numbers of independent neural units. Equations derived from the model predict the course of recovery for the response to the second of two clicks. A mathematical relation is shown between the two-click situation and the intensity growth curve for the first neural component of the response to a single click. This permits indirect reconstruction of the function relating amplitude ofN 1 to stimulus intensity. Experiments with pairs of clicks indicate that a normal probability integral provides a satisfactory fit. Thus the entire intensity function ofN 1 is capable of specification in terms of two statistical parameters, the mean and the standard deviation of the normal integral. Factors that affect the click response are presumed to act upon these parameters.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psycho-Acoustic Laboratory, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

    William J. McGill & Walter A. Rosenblith

Authors
  1. William J. McGill
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  2. Walter A. Rosenblith
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Additional information

This research was carried out under Contract N5ori-76 between Harvard University and the Office of Naval Research, U. S. Navy (Project Nr142-201, Report PNR-107). Reproduction for any purpose by the U. S. Government is permitted.

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McGill, W.J., Rosenblith, W.A. Electrical responses to two clicks: A simple statistical interpretation. Bulletin of Mathematical Biophysics 13, 69–77 (1951). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02478353

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02478353

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