Temporal processing in sensory systems

The idea that sensory information is represented by the temporal firing pat terns of neurons or entire networks, rather than by firing rates measured o ver long integration times, has recently gained increasing experimental sup port. A number of mechanisms that help to preserve temporal information in ascending sensory systems have been identified, and the role of inhibition in these processes has been characterized. Furthermore, it has become obvio us that temporal processing and the representation of sensory events by tem poral spike patterns are highly dependent upon the behavioral state of the animal or experimental subject.