FIG. 9.

Summary: hair cell vs. afferent gain and phase for sinusoidal stimuli. Contour plots (A–C) show probability density functions providing the likelihood of recording a cell with a specific gain and phase for hair-cell voltage clamp (A), hair-cell current clamp (B), and single-unit afferent discharge (C). Data are grouped over all frequencies tested with n denoting the number of cells and k denoting the total number of data points recorded at various frequencies. White indicates 0 probability and black indicates the highest probability (values indicated by short dashed lines). The phase of the current (A) has been shifted 180° re: Fig. 8 to facilitate comparison to voltage and afferent discharge. Note the increased dynamic range (vertical extent of gain) and bandwidth (horizontal extent of phase) of afferent responses (C) relative to hair-cell responses (A and B). Differences in temporal responses are highlighted in D showing clear differences between the probability density functions for the phases of hair-cell and afferent populations recorded.