A hypothetical mechanism of auditory processing for extraction of directional cues. Integration with oculomotor function

A hypothetical mechanism involving delayed forced oscillations of outer hair cells (OHC) in conjunction with the tectorial membrane is introduced to explain noise filtering, high dynamic range and efficient extraction of directional cues in the mammalian auditory system. It is shown how an ensemble of individually slow but highly synchronized neurons can produce a phase-correlated high frequency oscillation in a row of OHCs at a given tonotopic location. The author also suggests how superposition of two forces acoustical pressure difference between scala tympany and scala vestibuli and neurally-induced oscillations - produce synchronized deflection of a row of OHCs and lead to precisely controlled phase selectivity, and how such phase selectivity can be attributed to sound localization and noise suppression. Finally the author shows how a mechanism for extraction of auditory directional cues is linked to the oculomotor function. It is also suggested that functional and anatomical proximity of these two systems assist each other to warrant low-level auditory and visual situation awareness.