Startle-response in teleost fish: an elementary circuit for neural discrimination.

Abstract

This report describes a simple neural circuit, consisting of two identical linked halves, which discriminates without error between identical inputs to each half if the signals are as little as 0.15 ms apart. Its output is then finite from one side, and zero from the other. A simple, easily realizable “re-tuning” would permit very much finer discrimination. Might a similar system provide the basis for directionality-appreciation in auditory systems ?