| name | sound-localization-equilibrium-dynamics |
| description | Microsecond-precision sound localization emerges from slow equilibrium dynamics. ITD represented as stable equilibrium of neural population dynamics rather than classical Jeffress place-coding framework. |
| activation | sound localization, ITD, interaural time difference, equilibrium dynamics, neural population coding, auditory neuroscience, binaural perception, Jeffress model, computational auditory |
| tags | ["neuroscience","auditory-system","sound-localization","neural-dynamics","population-coding","equilibrium","ITD","binaural-processing"] |
| arxiv_id | 2607.03890 |
| date | 2026-07-04T00:00:00.000Z |
| authors | arXiv q-bio.NC |
| venue | arXiv |
Microsecond-Precision Sound Localization Emerges from Slow Equilibrium Dynamics
Paper Summary
Title: Microsecond-precision sound localization emerges from slow equilibrium dynamics
arXiv: 2607.03890
Date: July 4, 2026
Category: q-bio.NC
Core Problem
Paradox: Precise sound localization relies on microsecond sensitivity to interaural time differences (ITDs), yet binaural perception exhibits sluggish tracking of dynamic acoustic cues. How can these properties coexist?
Classical view: Jeffress (1948) place-coding framework requires explicit delay lines or precisely timed inhibition to achieve microsecond precision.
Key Contribution
New Computational Principle
ITD is represented as a stable equilibrium of neural population dynamics rather than by classical place-coding:
- Excitatory and inhibitory interactions across frequency channels generate a population signal
- This signal drives a dynamical system toward an equilibrium corresponding to the estimated ITD
- Despite relying on relatively slow temporal dynamics, achieves microsecond-level precision
Mechanism
- Cross-frequency interactions: E/I interactions across frequency channels
- Population signal generation: Creates a dynamical landscape with stable equilibria
- Equilibrium convergence: System evolves toward ITD-encoding equilibrium
- Precision without speed: Microsecond precision emerges from equilibrium position, not temporal precision
Key Results
- Achieves microsecond-level ITD precision
- Reproduces key physiological observations:
- Frequency-dependent best-delay distributions
- No explicit delay lines required
- No precisely timed inhibition needed
- Provides explanation for how precise ITD sensitivity arises from slow neural dynamics
Theoretical Framework
Dynamical Systems Approach
- Neural population state evolves on a landscape
- ITD corresponds to position of stable equilibrium
- System converges to equilibrium regardless of initial conditions
- Precision determined by equilibrium sharpness, not dynamics speed
Comparison to Jeffress Model
