Functional Architecture of Auditory Pathways from Inferior Colliculus to Cortex

描述(申请人提供)：在听觉系统中，刺激的表征在听觉中脑(下丘)和听觉皮质之间发生显著的变化。在所有物种中，下丘中央核(ICC)的单一强直表达让位于初级听皮层的多个强直区域，这些多个皮质区域表现出功能分离。因为ICC和听觉皮质之间的转换是基本的，所以知道它们发生在哪里以及如何发生是很重要的。拟议的研究涉及1)从ICC中央核的不同部分到内侧膝状体(MG)的紧张部(‘核心’区)的解剖投射， 以及从MG核心区到听觉皮质的投射，以及2)评估不同的通路是否携带不同的信息。对构成上行听觉系统的多个平行通路的组织的了解是理解听觉功能机制的基本组成部分。这一知识有望提供信息，用于合理选择直接脑刺激的潜在目标，用于无法使用人工耳蜗术的聋人患者或耳鸣等顽固性疾病。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In the auditory system, striking transformations in the representations of stimuli occur between the auditory midbrain (inferior colliculus) and the auditory cortex. In all species, the single tonotopic representation in the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (ICc) gives way to multiple tonotopic areas in the primary auditory cortex and these multiple cortical areas exhibit segregation of function. Because the transformations between the ICc and auditory cortex are fundamental, it is important to know where and how they occur. The proposed studies address 1) the anatomical projections from distinct parts of the central nucleus of the ICc to the tonotopic parts ('core" areas) of the medial geniculate (MG), and the projections from core areas of the MG to the auditory cortex and 2) evaluation of whether different pathways carry different information. An understanding of the organization of the multiple parallel pathways making up the ascending auditory system is a fundamental component for understanding the mechanisms of auditory function. This knowledge is expected to provide information that can be used in making rational choices of potential targets for direct brain stimulation in deaf patients who cannot use a cochlear prosthesis or in intractable disorders such as tinnitus.