蝙蝠复杂的回声定位行为是动物适应环境的最重要发现之一，探讨其过程和生理机制既有助于认识这种行为本身，同时也能揭示哺乳动物乃至人类听觉信号加工的细节。由于高度特化的听觉系统是蝙蝠完成回声定位行为重要的生理基础，因此，弄清蝙蝠听中枢对回声定位信号加工的特点和机制则具有非常重要的生物学意义。本项目将依据行为学录音结果设置电生理实验的声信号参数，采用“细胞外记录+神经药理学+细胞内记录”相结合的方法，围绕恒频-调频蝙蝠的回声定位行为，做听觉中脑神经元对回声定位行为信号及其模式反应的适应性研究，并探讨蝙蝠听中枢与回声定位行为相适应的有关生理机制，如对种属特异性声信号和模式反应的选择性、对回声定位信号多参数共变或谐变的感受、在多普勒频移补偿条件下神经元的频率选择性、以及神经元对“脉冲--回声对”模式产生联合敏感反应等方面的机制，以期在有关蝙蝠听中枢适应回声定位行为的生理基础方面获得某些新的发现。

Complicated echolocation behavior of bats is one of the most important discoveries of animals adapting to environment. Discussing the process and physiological mechanism of this echolocation behavior helps to cognize the behavior itself and to reveal details of auditory signals processing of mammals and human beings. As highly specialized auditory system is an important physiological foundation for bats to finish echolocation, figuring out features and mechanism of echolocation signals processing by central auditory system of bats is of great biological significance. This project will set acoustic signal parameters for electrophysiological experiment according to recording results of behavioral experiment. Adopting extracellular and intracellular recording methods combining method of neuropharmacology and centering on echolocation behavior of constant frequency-frequency modulation bats, the project will study adaptability of auditory midbrain response to echolocation signal and its pattern. And it will also discuss about the related physiological mechanisms of central auditory system adapting to echolocation behaviors of bats, namely selective mechanism of neurons response to species specificity acoustic signals and patterns, perception of co-variation and harmony of parameters matching with echolocation signals, frequency tuning mechanism of neurons under Doppler frequency shift compensation behaviors and synaptic mechanism of combination-sensitive neurons response to “pulse-echo” patterns. The results will provide some new discoveries about the physiological basis of central auditory system adapting to echolocation behaviors of bats.