Neural mechanisms of sound localization in an echolocating bat

Science. 1984 Aug 17;225(4663):725-8. doi: 10.1126/science.6463649.

Abstract

The mustache bat emits a three-harmonic echolocation pulse. At the external ear, large interaural intensity differences are generated only when a sound originates within a limited area of two-dimensional space, and this area is different for each pulse harmonic. As a consequence, the external ear generates pronounced binaural spectral cues containing two-dimensional spatial information. This information is encoded in the inferior colliculus by neurons tuned to one of the harmonics and sensitive to interaural intensity differences.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acoustics
  • Animals
  • Auditory Perception / physiology*
  • Chiroptera / physiology*
  • Ear, External / physiology
  • Echolocation / physiology*
  • Inferior Colliculi / physiology
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Orientation / physiology*
  • Sound Localization / physiology*