Some tentative model considerations based on experimental neuromagnetic data

Abstract

In this paper we present some tentative model considerations, based on the concept of an equivalent current dipole to account for observed auditory evoked responses, with the aim of attempting a comparison of variations in amplitude and latency with calculations based on Rall’s greatly simplified nerve model. A phenomenological analysis of experimental data on the late, auditory evoked magnetic field from the human auditory cortex is presented. The emphasis is here placed on relations between signal properties (e.g. amplitude and latency) and between signal properties and stimulus properties (e.g. amplitude/latency and relative frequency glide Δf/f for a frequency glide stimulus) rather than on questions related to the location of the equivalent current dipole,e.g. the tonotopic organization discussed by Elberlinget al. and by Romaniet al.. Some results of a numerical calculation based on a linear-cable model are presented and compared with experimental results.