ABSTRACT
Rate coding depends on mean firing frequency, so cannot be used to encode precise timing of events. Yet there is considerable evidence that precise timing is crucial for many neural functions and under these circumstances the brain uses temporal coding. This is where exact spike timing or high frequency firing fluctuations carry timing information. Studies of the cat visual system show that the resolution of temporal coding is on a millisecond timescale. There are several different temporal coding mechanisms and all rely on features other than mean firing frequency. Temporal coding is used for exact timing of events and as a way in which the firing of many neurons can be synchronized.
