Local processing of auditory information in the thorax of Ensifera

声音信号通常会根据载波频率、时间模式和声音方向进行分析，以选择适当的行为，如逃跑动作或接近潜在的交配伙伴。许多直翅目动物使用声信号进行种内交流。对于一些Ensifera物种（蟋蟀，蝈蝈及其盟友），已经确定了神经元活动与行为的相关性。这些数据几乎完全来自节段间的中间神经元，它们连接胸前神经节（来自耳朵的感觉神经元的末端）和大脑。尽管节段间中间神经元的反应谱显示了重要的前胸神经加工的多种迹象，但对Ensifera前胸神经节的局部加工知之甚少。唯一的例外是方向信息的处理是由一个大的神经元，即-神经元完成的。本项目旨在了解蝈蝈前胸神经节中与行为相关的时间模式处理和载波频率处理。对于这两个参数，抑制已被证明在形成神经元特性中起主要作用。唤起这些抑制作用的局部神经元尚未确定。通过对局部小神经元的记录，将描述它们的形态和生理特性。通过药物阻滞剂和染色神经元神经节的免疫组织化学分析消除抑制，将阐明这些元素对（主要）抑制加工的贡献。通过在潜在突触后元件记录过程中局部神经元的光失活，可以显示单个局部神经元对突触后细胞响应特性的贡献。总而言之，我们希望揭示声模式和载波频率处理在这个局部网络中的潜在机制。

Acoustic signals usually are analyzed regarding carrier frequency, temporal pattern and sound direction for choosing appropriate behaviors like escape movements or approach to a potential mating partner. Many Orthoptera use acoustic signaling for intraspecific communication. For a few species of Ensifera (crickets, katydids and allies) correlates of neuronal activity to behavior have been identified. These data come nearly exclusively from intersegmental interneurons, which connect the prothoracic ganglion (site of termination of sensory neurons from the ear) with the brain. Little is known about local processing in the prothoracic ganglion of Ensifera, even though response profiles of intersegmental interneurons show manifold indications of important prothoracic processing. The only exception to this is processing of directional information by one large neuron, the omega-neuron. The current project aims at understanding behaviourally relevant temporal pattern processing and carrier frequency processing in the prothoracic ganglion of katydids. For both parameters inhibitions have been shown to play a major role in shaping neuronal properties. The local neurons evoking these inhibitions are not identified. By recording from small local neurons their morphological and physiological properties will be described. By eliminating inhibition by means of pharmacological blockers and immunohistochemical analysis of ganglia with stained neurons the contribution of these elements to (mainly) inhibitory processing will be elucidated. By photo-inactivation of a local neuron during recording from a potential postsynaptic element the contribution of single local neurons to response properties of postsynaptic cells can be shown. All in all, we want to reveal the underlying mechanisms of sound pattern and carrier frequency processing in this local network.