Patterns of inhibition in auditory cortical cells in awake squirrel monkeys

Two-tone interactions are recorded in the responses of single units in the superior temporal gyrus to contralateral acoustic stimulation of the awake squirrel monkey. Four response types are distinguished based primarily on the nature of the inhibitory responses elicited by two-tone stimuli, and secondarily on such criteria as the patterns of response to single tones and noise stimuli, thresholds, and spontaneous activity levels. Type A units display strong lateral inhibitory influences which may extend up to 2 octaves on either side, or both sides, of the BF. They are sharply tuned at all intensities and exhibit sustained response to single tone stimuli at the BF. The units have nonmonotonic rate-level functions, and show little or no response to broad band noise. Type A units have low spontaneous rates (less than 3 spikes/s) and relatively high thresholds (greater than or equal to 30 dB SPL). Type B units are characterized by relatively high spontaneous rates of activity (greater than 20 spikes/s) and inhibitory responses to single tone stimuli. Broad band noise may evoke strong excitatory response. Type C units summate the responses to the two-tone stimulus, and show little or no inhibitory influences. They have V-shaped tuning curves, monotonic rate-level functions, low thresholds (greater than or equal to 30 dB SPL), moderate spontaneous rates (ca. 10 spikes/s), and a strong and sustained response to noise and single tone stimuli. Type D units show 'temporal inhibition' to two-tone stimuli, in that an excitatory response to the first tone suppresses (adapts or inhibits) the response to the second tone. These units generally have moderate to broad frequency tuning and phasic responses to single tone stimuli. Histological examination of electrode tracks suggests that Type A units are restricted to A1 (and possibly the rostral field) while other types are distributed over all auditory fields.