Final answer:
The result of temporal and spatial summation at the MSO is sound localization, which is the brain's ability to determine the direction of a sound based on the interaural time differences and intensity differences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Temporal and Spatial Summation at the MSO and Sound Localization
At the Medial Superior Olive (MSO), the processes of temporal and spatial summation play a crucial role in the phenomenon of sound localization. Temporal summation refers to the combination of graded potentials at the same location on a neuron resulting in a strong signal over time. Spatial summation, on the other hand, is related to the association of multiple inputs to a neuron from various locations. In the context of sound localization, these summations allow the MSO to compare differences in the time of arrival (intertemporal differences) and intensity (interaural intensity differences) of sounds at the ears, helping us determine where a sound is coming from in the environment.
Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is a) Sound localization. This is achieved by the brain calculating these interaural time differences and intensity differences, which are crucial for identifying the direction from which a sound originates.