Subthreshold auditory inputs to extrastriate visual neurons are responsive to parametric changes in stimulus quality: Sensory-specific versus non-specific coding
Subthreshold auditory inputs to extrastriate visual neurons are responsive to parametric changes in stimulus quality: Sensory-specific versus non-specific coding
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DOI：
10.1016/j.brainres.2008.03.086
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发表时间：
2008-11-25
期刊：
影响因子：
2.9
通讯作者：
Meredith, M. Alex
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Allman, Brian L.;Keniston, Leslie P.;Meredith, M. Alex
最近发现了一种新的阈下形式的多感觉处理，其结果是来自一种模态的阈上兴奋性输入与来自另一种模态的阈下输入的会聚。由于第二种模态的阈下性质，感觉特征的描述性测量，如感受野特性或位置，并不像传统的双峰神经元那样直接明显。这就提出了一个问题，即阈下信号是否真的传达了在双峰对应物中看到的感觉特异性感受野信息，或者它们是否代表非特异性效应，如唤醒。本实验解决了这个问题，在视觉反应神经元从猫后外侧外侧上大脑皮层（PLLS）。单单位电生理技术被用来记录神经元对视觉，听觉和视听联合刺激的反应，而在阈下听觉模态的刺激强度被系统地改变。结果表明，阈下多感觉神经元对听觉刺激强度的变化敏感。这些感受野敏感性与双峰神经元中观察到的相似，因此代表感觉特异性，而不是觉醒相关的反应。此外，这些结果进一步支持了多感觉处理沿着从双峰到纯粹感觉特异性的神经元会聚模式的动态连续体发生的概念。(c)2008 Elsevier B.V.保留所有权利。
A new subthreshold form of multisensory processing has been recently identified that results from the convergence of suprathreshold excitatory inputs from one modality with subthreshold inputs from another. Because of the subthreshold nature of the second modality, descriptive measures of sensory features such as receptive field properties or location are not directly apparent as they are for traditional bimodal neurons. This raises the question of whether or not subthreshold signals actually convey sensory-specific receptive field information as seen in their bimodal counterparts, or if they represent non-specific effects such as arousal. The present experiment addressed this issue in visually-responsive neurons from the cat posterolateral lateral suprasylvian cortex (PLLS). Single-unit electrophysiological techniques were used to record neuronal responses to visual, auditory and combined visual-auditory stimuli while the intensity of stimulation in the subthreshold auditory modality was systematically altered. The results showed that subthreshold multisensory neurons were sensitive to changes in auditory stimulus intensity. These receptive field sensitivities are similar to those observed in bimodal neurons and thereby represent sensory-specific, not arousal-related responses. in addition, these results provide further support for the notion that multisensory processing occurs along a dynamic continuum of neuronal convergence patterns from bimodal to purely sensory-specific. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.