Dynamic polarization vector of spatially tuned neurons

A method for estimating the spatial and temporal properties of neurons, like the otolith neurons, that are spatially tuned to different stimulus directions is presented. The method is based on the response ellipse that can be constructed from the measured response gain and phase values during stimulation along three orthogonal axes. The semimajor axis of the ellipse will specify the neuron´s direction of maximum sensitivity (polarization vector), whereas the semiminor axis will provide its sensitivity in the perpendicular direction. The predictions of the method for nonzero length of the semiminor axis are qualitatively the same as the experimentally observed dependence of response phase on stimulus orientation.