Functional architecture of the auditory cortex

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究的目的是研究听觉皮层突触的突触特性，以评估其在听觉信息加工中的假设作用。本研究的主要目的是了解这些突起对听觉感知和听觉行为的功能贡献，以及这些突触特性的变化如何随年龄和疾病过程而变化。我已经确定了中枢听觉系统中谷氨酸能突触的几个解剖学和生理学特性，这构成了拟议研究的基础。本研究将利用小鼠听觉皮层通路的体外切片制备技术。皮质神经元的全细胞记录将用于记录对最小电刺激、谷氨酸释放光刺激和通道视紫红质表达纤维的光刺激的反应，以表征它们的地形组织和生理特性。此外，一种新的方法的光学成像的反应揭示了自体荧光将被用来帮助跟踪输出模式的听觉皮层投射。形态学相关性将寻求使用细胞内注射生物细胞素。我们提出的实验将有助于进一步了解听觉皮层投射的信息承载作用，并有助于确定它们在听觉系统中央加工组织中的相对权重。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goals of this study will be to investigate the synaptic properties of auditory cortical synapses, in order to assess their putative roles in auditory information processing. The broad objectives of this research are to understand the functional contributions of these projections to auditory perception and behavior and how changes in these synaptic properties manifest with age and in disease processes. I have already identified several anatomical and physiological properties of glutamatergic synapses in the central auditory system, which forms the basis for the proposed investigation. This study will utilize an in vitro slice preparation in the mouse, which has been developed for the auditory cortical pathways. Whole-cell recordings in cortical neurons will be used to record responses to minimal electrical stimulation, photostimulation by uncaging of glutamate, and photostimulation of channelrhodopsin expressing fibers in order to characterize their topographic organization and physiological properties. In addition, a novel method of optical imaging of responses revealed by autofluorescence will be employed to help trace the output patterns of auditory cortical projections. Morphological correlates will be sought using intracellular injections of biocytin. The proposed experiments should lead to further insight on the information-bearing roles of the auditory cortical projections, as well as help to establish their relative weights in the organization of central processing in the auditory system.