A dendritic model of coincidence detection in the avian brainstem ?
We have constructed a detailed biophysical model of coincidence detector neurons in the nucleus laminaris (auditory brainstem) which are purported to detect interaural time differences (ITDs). In the model, ITD coding is improved when the inputs from both ears are located on the bipolar dendrites and segregated, over having both inputs on the soma: the model behaves like the in vivo coincidence detectors. The model has enabled us to explore features of the coincidence detector neurons unexplained by a simpler biophysical model (Agmon-Snir et al., Nature 393 (1998) 262272), including the effect of synapse location and multiple dendrites.
dendrite coincidence nucleus laminaris