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

描述（由申请人提供）：在本提案中，我们将研究线索组合在下丘臂核（BIN）听觉空间敏感性中的计算。我们将通过呈现声音刺激来描述感受野的位置和频率，同时记录BIN中神经元的细胞外反应。此外，我们将通过测量对随机频谱形状的声音刺激的反应来表征和模拟这些接受野背后的多线索相互作用。本研究的结果将阐明提升听觉系统中形成物体所必需的声音定位线索整合的神经机制。听觉神经假体的一个尚未解决的问题是如何产生对刺激的空间位置的充分感觉。这一信息对于在多人交谈的环境中揭开空间掩蔽以及定位声音非常重要。理解听觉空间场是如何在BIN中构建的，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线索应该是有用的。最后，本工作的结果也为规划听力障碍患者声音定位表征缺陷的实验研究提供了先决条件。

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.