Functional Architecture of Auditory Pathways from Inferior Colliculus to Cortex

描述（由申请人提供）：在听觉系统中，听觉中脑（下丘）和听觉皮层之间发生刺激表征的显著变化。在所有物种中，下丘中央核（ICc）中的单一tonotopic代表让位于初级听觉皮层中的多个tonotopic区域，这些多个皮层区域表现出功能分离。因为ICc和听觉皮层之间的转换是基本的，所以了解它们在哪里以及如何发生是很重要的。拟开展的研究涉及：1）从ICc中央核的不同部分到内侧膝状体（MG）的音调定位部分（“核心”区域）的解剖投射， 以及MG核心区到听觉皮层的投射; 2）评估不同的通路是否携带不同的信息。理解构成提升听觉系统的多重平行路径的组织是理解听觉功能机制的基本组成部分。这方面的知识，预计将提供信息，可用于合理选择潜在的目标，直接脑刺激的失聪患者谁不能使用人工耳蜗或在顽固性疾病，如耳鸣。

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.