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Temporal Coding in Auditory Cortex

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The Auditory Cortex

Abstract

Sounds in general, and human speech and animal vocalizations in particular, are characterized by their intricate temporal structure and, often, strong harmonic content. These characteristics have been named information bearing elements (IBEs) and include steady-state harmonically related frequencies, frequency modulations, and noise bursts. The interrelationship between these IBEs is reflected in information bearing parameters (IBPs) such as onsets, slow amplitude modulations, and silent gaps (Suga 1989, 1992). The IBEs are part of the sound’s texture (fine structure) and the IBPs reflect the sound contours or envelopes (Eggermont 1998, 2001). The representation of these temporal IBPs in cortical neural activity is the main topic of this Chapter.

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Abbreviations

AAF:

Tanterior auditory field

AI:

primary auditory cortex

AII:

second auditory field

AL:

anterior lateral field

AM:

amplitude modulation

BMF:

best modulation frequency

CF:

characteristic frequency

CL:

caudo-lateral field

EEG:

electroencephalography

ERBP:

event-related band power

FFR:

frequency following response

FM:

frequency modulation

fMRI:

functional magnetic resonance imaging

FM:

frequency modulation

HG:

Heschl’s gyrus

IBE:

information bearing elements

IBP:

information bearing parameters

ICEP:

intracortical evoked potential

ICI:

inter-click interval

ISI:

inter-spike interval

LFP:

local field potential

m:

depth of modulation

MEG:

magnetoencephalography

MF:

modulation frequency

MGB:

medial geniculate body

ML:

middle lateral field

MU:

multi-unit

PAF:

posterior auditory field

PP:

planum polare

PST/PSTH:

post-stimulus time histogram

PT:

planum temporale

R:

rostral field

RL:

rostrolateral field

RT:

rostrotemporal field

rMTF:

rate modulation transfer function

tMTF:

temporal modulation transfer function

SAM:

sinusoidal amplitude modulation

STG:

supra temporal gyrus

STS:

supra temporal sulcus

SU:

single unit

VOT:

voice onset time

VPAF:

ventro-posterior auditory field

VS:

vector strength

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 1N4

    Jos J. Eggermont

  2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Xiaoqin Wang

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  1. Jos J. Eggermont
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  2. Xiaoqin Wang
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Correspondence to Jos J. Eggermont .

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  1. Dept. Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, 94720-3200, California, USA

    Jeffery A. Winer

  2. WM Keck Foundation Center for, Integrative Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, Box 0732, Room HSE 824, San Francisco, 94143-0732, California, USA

    Christoph E. Schreiner

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Eggermont, J.J., Wang, X. (2011). Temporal Coding in Auditory Cortex. In: Winer, J., Schreiner, C. (eds) The Auditory Cortex. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0074-6_14

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