Neural analysis of temporally patterned sounds in the frog's thalamus: processing of pulse duration and pulse repetition rate.

We conducted a single unit study of auditory neurons in the central thalamic nucleus of the northern leopard frog. These cells, unlike those of the posterior thalamic nucleus (J. Comp. Physiol., 150 (1983) 333-344), were broadly tuned and sensitive to one or more temporal features (pulse duration and repetition rate) of complex sound signals. When compared with previous studies, these results suggest that temporal and spectral information may be processed separately by distinct populations of neurons within the frog's thalamus.