Receptive fields of auditory neurons in the owl

The influence of sound location on the responses of auditory neurons in the forebrain of the owl (Tyto alba) was studied directly by using a remotely controlled, movable sound source under free-field, anechoic conditions. Some auditory neurons demonstrated well-defined receptive fields that were (i) restricted both in elevation and in azimuth and (ii) relatively independent of the intensity and the nature of the sound stimulus. The majority of the fields were located frontally and contralateral to the recording site.