Spatial Tuning in the Nucleus of the Brachium of the Inferior Colliculus

描述(申请人提供)：在这项建议中，我们将研究在下丘臂核(BIN)的听觉空间敏感性基础上的线索组合的计算。我们将通过呈现声音刺激，同时记录BIN中神经元的细胞外反应，来表征位置和频率的感受野。此外，我们将通过测量具有随机频谱形状的声音刺激的反应来表征和模拟这些感受野下的多线索相互作用。这项研究的结果将阐明整合声音定位线索的神经机制，这些线索是在上升听觉系统中形成物体所必需的。听觉神经假体中一个尚未解决的问题是产生对刺激的空间位置的足够感觉。这一信息对于多个说话者环境中的空间去掩蔽以及声音的定位都是重要的。理解听觉空间场在BIN中是如何构建的，对于确定需要提供哪些声音定位线索以及以何种形式提供应该是有用的。最后，这项工作的结果也是计划对听力障碍的声音局部化表征缺陷进行实验研究的先决条件。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In this proposal, we will investigate the computations for cue combination underlying auditory spatial sensitivity in the nucleus of the brachium of the inferior colliculus (BIN). We will characterize the receptive fields for both location and frequenc by presenting sound stimuli while simultaneously recording extracellular responses from neurons in the BIN. In addition, we will characterize and model multi-cue interaction underlying these receptive fields by measuring responses to sound stimuli with random spectral shapes. The results of this study will elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying the integration of sound localization cues necessary for the formation of objects in the ascending auditory system. An unsolved problem in auditory neural prostheses is producing an adequate sense of the spatial location of stimuli. This information is important for spatial unmasking in multi-talker environments as well as for localizing sounds. An understanding of how auditory spatial fields are constructed in the BIN should be useful in determining which sound localization cues need to be provided and in what form. Finally, the results of this work are also a prerequisite for planning an experimental investigation of the deficits in the sound localization representation in hearing impairment.