Spectro-temporal characteristics of single units in the auditory midbrain of the lightly anaesthetised grass frog (Rana temporaria L.) investigated with tonal stimuli.

Responses were obtained from 112 auditory neurons in the midbrain of the grass frog in response to sequences of tones. Their spectro-temporal sensitivities (STS) were determined by a second-order cross-correlation technique. For the majority of units the shape of their action potentials, the degree of timelock to the stimulus and the recording sites were obtained. Two stages of information processing could be distinguished. One was characterized by short latencies (less than 30 ms), strong timelock to the stimulus and many of these units had axon-like action potential waveforms. They were localised in the ventral part of the principal nucleus from the torus semicircularis and in the transition region between laminar and principal nucleus. The other stage comprised units, found all over the torus, with longer latencies, and a weaker timelock to the stimulus. Several units which were predominantly found in the central part of the torus, especially the magnocellular nucleus, showed a broad or multiple STS. Within the principal nucleus a weak tonotopy was found, the dorsoposterior part being sensitive to lower frequencies, the ventroanterior part to the higher frequencies. Binaural-interaction properties are discussed with respect to the eardrum coupling through the mouth cavity. An organisational plan for the torus semicircularis is proposed.