[Relationship between the phase sensitivity of inferior colliculus neurons and the frequency of the acoustic signal].

With tone frequency (F) lower than the neuron characteristic frequency (F0), the neuron OFF-response is maximal at the signal end-phase (phi) of about 90 and 270 degrees and is minimal at about 0 and 180 degrees. On the contrary, with F less than F0 the OFF-response is maximal at phi-values of about 0 and 180 degrees and is minimal at about 90, 270 degrees. Considering these data as resulted by mechanical processes at the cochlear basilar membrane, it proved possible 1) to determine apriori the values of the OFF-responses to bitonal stimuli and 2) to predict different shift direction of the fused auditory image (in psychophysical experiment) with the phase change of one of the binaurally presented tones at frequencies lower and higher the human optimal sensitivity range.