Archived Versions

Neural Coding and Perception of Sound

As taught in: Spring 2005

A series of photographs of an owl at night.

Photos of an owl at night, Ngala Game Reserve, South Africa. (Photograph courtesy of Sandra Mallalieu.)

Instructors:

Dr. Bertrand Delgutte

Prof. Jennifer R. Melcher

Prof. John Guinan, Jr.

Prof. M. Christian Brown

Prof. Andrew Oxenham

MIT Course Number:

HST.723J / 9.285J

Level:

Graduate

Course Features

Course Description

This course focuses on neural structures and mechanisms mediating the detection, localization and recognition of sounds. Discussions cover how acoustic signals are coded by auditory neurons, the impact of these codes on behavioral performance, and the circuitry and cellular mechanisms underlying signal transformations. Topics include temporal coding, neural maps and feature detectors, learning and plasticity, and feedback control. General principles are conveyed by theme discussions of auditory masking, sound localization, musical pitch, speech coding, and cochlear implants.