Activity patterns of cochlear ganglion neurones in the starling

Abstract

Spontaneous activity and responses to simple tonal stimuli were studied in cochlear ganglion neurones of the starling. Both regular and irregular spontaneous activity were recorded (Figs. 1 to 5). Non-auditory cells have their origin in the macula lagenae. Mean spontaneous rate for auditory cells (all irregularly spiking) was 45 spikes s⁻¹. In half the units having characteristic frequencies (CFs) −1. ‘On-off’ responses and primary suppression of spontaneous activity were observed (Figs. 22 and 23). A direct comparison of spontaneous activity and tuning-curve symmetry (Fig. 15b) revealed that, apart from quantative differences, fundamental qualitative differences exist between starling and guinea-pig primary afferents.