Phase-sensitive midbrain neurons in Eigenmannia: neural correlates of the jamming avoidance response.

Neurons in the torus semicircularis of the weakly electric fish Eigenmannia encode phase differences between sinusoidal electrical stimuli received in different body regions. These fish normally experience time-varying phase differences when the electric organ discharge fields of two or more individuals overlap. These phase differences supply information necessary for the animal's jamming avoidance behavior.