Auditory CNS Processing and Plasticity
A Series of Synopses Arising from the Auditory Function and Dysfunction Satellite Symposium of the 34th IUPS Congress
Guest Editors: Gary D. Housley, Auckland; Ramesh Rajan, Clayton; Peter R. Thorne, Auckland

Auditory CNS Processing and Plasticity

Auditory Cortical Spatial Receptive Fields
John F. Brugge^a,c, Richard A. Reale^a,c, Rick L. Jenison^a,b,c, Jan Schnupp^d

Departments of
^aPhysiology and
^bPsychology, and
^cWaisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisc., USA;
^dLaboratory of Physiology, Oxford University, Oxford, UK

Address of Corresponding Author

Audiology & Neuro-Otology 2001;6:173-177 (DOI: 10.1159/000046827)

  Key Words

• Auditory cortex
• Directional hearing
• Sound localization

  Abstract

Neurons in the primary auditory cortex (AI) of anesthetized cats were studied for their sensitivity to directions of transient sounds in virtual acoustic space under a variety of conditions. An effective transient sound evokes a single spike or short burst of spikes with a precisely timed onset. The aggregate of effective directions forms a spatial receptive field. Typically, spatial receptive fields are large, often occupying a quadrant or more of acoustic space. Within the receptive field onset latency varies systematically with direction thereby providing information about source direction. This receptive field structure is highly robust, remaining relatively stable under conditions of competing sounds. Maximum likelihood analysis suggests that psychophysical spatial acuity can be achieved with a relatively small ensemble of AI neurons with broad receptive fields having response gradients of latency. Using reverse correlation and white-noise analysis receptive fields were mapped in space and time. This analysis revealed that spatial receptive fields of AI neurons need not be static but may exhibit marked temporal dynamics. This suggests a sensitivity for direction and speed of moving sound sources.

Copyright © 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Dr. John F. Brugge
627 Waisman Center
University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI 53705 (USA)
Tel. +1 608 263 5928, Fax +1 608 264 5929, E-Mail Brugge@waisman.wisc.edu

  Article Information

Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 22