Intensity Functions and Dynamic Responses from the Cochlea to the Cochlear Nucleus

Intensity functions, relating neural response to sound intensity level, are among the most commonly measured characteristics of auditory neurons. Nevertheless, questions remain unanswered concerning the detailed features of the functions. This paper describes intensity functions for the first three stages of the auditory system and presents some speculations about the significance of their shapes and the relationships between static and dynamic response components. All of the data come from single auditory neurons of anesthetized Mongolian gerbils, and the experimental techniques have been described in detail elsewhere (Frisina et al., 1982; Goodmanetal., 1982; Smith, 1979).