This paper discusses a new multilayer one-dimensional (1-D) cellular neural
network model of the time-coding pathway of sound localization. The key fe
ature of the model is lateral inhibition, which is supposed to play a cruci
al role in sound localization. The possible role of this inhibition is exam
ined on the basis of our model and several conlusions are drawn concerning
the expected nature of inhibition. It is also shown that by use of inhibiti
on, a group of neurons may be much more sensitive to interaural time differ
ence than one individual neuron. Thus, our model of the first stage of the
sound localization system solves a hyperacuity in time problem. The second
part of the paper introduces a CNN model of that part of the sound localiza
tion system which is characterized by a massive convergence of different fr
equency channels to resolve the so-called phase ambiguity problem. We show
that with inhibition good results can be achieved here too. Quantitative st
udies show the robustness of the model.