Sensory Prediction in the Auditory Cortex during Vocal Production

本研究的总体目标是了解感觉预测在听觉记忆中的作用。 皮层预测一个人行为的感官后果的能力在塑造一个人的行为中起着重要的作用。 感觉编码和引导行为。在听觉系统中，这种预测在发声过程中使用， 让我们能够监控我们声音的反馈。然而，这种听觉的神经机制 自我监控是未知的。这项建议的重点是确定机制和神经回路， 这种感觉预测改变了发声过程中听觉皮层的感觉编码， 这些预测所起的作用。我们使用一种新的发声灵长类动物模型，绒猴。 目的1主要探讨发声过程中反馈编码的机制，并对这一假说进行验证 感觉预测会影响听觉皮层的反应， 和预测。我们记录了发声绒猴的听觉皮层神经元，同时调整频率 使用不同方向和幅度的频移来测量灵敏度， 反馈错误。为了进一步研究潜在的计算机制， 形状反馈编码，我们测量发声过程中听觉皮层的频率调谐变化， 与被动聆听相比，以及这些与预测的声乐效果有何关系。 目的2研究感觉预测和反馈编码的听觉皮层回路， 测试背侧听觉通路比早期听觉通路表现出更大的反馈灵敏度的假设， 皮层我们记录了在发声过程中对改变的反馈的反应，并比较了 背侧“哪里和如何”通路与初级听觉皮层（A1）和腹侧“什么”通路。我们进一步 比较神经活动的强度，以预测在改变反馈期间的补偿性声音变化。 这些结果对验证当前的功能特化模型具有重要意义， 这些高阶听觉通路。 目的3：探讨感觉预测在听觉皮层中的行为作用，检验以下假设： 听觉皮层内的活动对于依赖反馈的声音控制是必要的。我们把联合收割机频率- 通过听觉皮层的药理学失活来改变声音反馈，以确定这种操作是否 破坏行为补偿。我们进一步比较了大脑半球和大脑皮层的失活效应。 不同的频率调谐。这些实验将证明听觉皮层的因果作用， 反馈自我监控和由此产生的声音控制。

The overall objective of this research is to understand the role of sensory prediction in the auditory cortex. The ability to predict the sensory consequences of one’s actions plays an important role in shaping sensory coding and guiding behavior. In the auditory system, this prediction is used during vocal production, allowing us to monitor feedback of the sound of our voice. However, the neural mechanisms of this auditory self-monitoring are unknown. This proposal focuses on determining the mechanisms and neural circuits by which sensory prediction changes sensory coding in the auditory cortex during vocalization, and the behavioral role played by such predictions. We approach this using a novel vocal primate model, the marmoset monkey. Aim 1 focuses on the mechanisms of feedback encoding during vocalization, and tests the hypothesis that sensory prediction shapes auditory cortex responses to calculate an error signal between vocal feedback and the prediction. We record auditory cortex neurons in vocalizing marmosets while adjusting the frequency content of their vocal feedback using frequency shifts of varying direction and magnitude to measure sensitivity to feedback errors. To further investigate potential computational mechanisms by which sensory prediction shapes feedback coding, we measure frequency tuning changes in auditory cortex during vocalization compared to passive listening, and how these relate to predicted vocal acoustics. Aim 2 investigates the auditory cortical circuits involved in sensory prediction and feedback encoding, testing the hypothesis that the dorsal auditory pathway exhibits greater feedback sensitivity than early auditory cortex. We record responses to altered feedback during vocalization and compare responses between the dorsal “where and how” pathway with primary auditory cortex (A1) and the ventral “what” pathway. We further compare the strength of neural activity in predicting compensatory vocal changes during altered feedback. These results have important implications for validating current models of functional specializations within these higher-order auditory pathways. Aim 3 addresses the behavioral role of sensory prediction in auditory cortex, testing the hypothesis that activity within the auditory cortex is necessary for feedback-dependent vocal control. We combine frequency- shifted vocal feedback with pharmacologic inactivation of auditory cortex to determine if such manipulations disrupt behavioral compensation. We further compare effects of inactivation between hemispheres and sites of different frequency tuning. These experiments will demonstrate a causal role for the auditory cortex in feedback self-monitoring and resulting vocal control.