On the limit of neural phase locking to fine structure in humans

The frequency extent over which temporal fine structure is available in the human auditory system has recently become a topic of much discussion. It is common, in both the physiological and psychophysical literature, to encounter the assumption that fine structure is available to humans up to about 5 kHz or even higher. We argue from existing physiological, anatomical, and behavioral data in animals, combined with behavioral and anatomical data in humans, that it is unlikely that the human central nervous system has access to fine structure above a few kHz.