Functional Architecture of Auditory Pathways from Inferior Colliculus to Cortex

描述（由申请人提供）：在听觉系统中，在听觉中脑（下丘）和听觉皮层之间发生刺激表征的惊人转变。在所有物种中，下丘中央核（ICc）的单一张力异位表现让位于初级听觉皮层的多个张力异位区域，这些多个皮质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。提出的研究涉及1)ICc中央核的不同部分到内侧膝状（MG）的张力部分（“核心”区域）的解剖投影；

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.