An emergent model of multisensory integration in superior colliculus neurons
An emergent model of multisensory integration in superior colliculus neurons
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DOI：
10.3389/fnint.2010.00006
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发表时间：
2010-01-01
影响因子：
3.5
通讯作者：
Stein, Barry E.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Cuppini, Cristiano;Ursino, Mauro;Stein, Barry E.
猫上级丘（SC）神经元整合来自不同感觉的信息，以增强其对跨通道刺激的反应。这些多感觉SC神经元从许多来源接收多个会聚的unisensory输入;从联合皮层接收的那些对于多感觉整合的表现至关重要。SC神经元的这种特性的机制尚未完全理解，但可以通过使用数学模型和计算机模拟来澄清。因此，目前的努力的目的是提出一个合理的模型，可以解释的主要生理功能的多感觉整合的基础上，目前的神经学文献的影响，由SC从皮层和皮层下来源。该模型假设输入之间存在竞争机制，NMDA受体反应的非线性，并提供先验突触权重来模仿SC神经元的正常反应。其结果是，它提供了一个基础，了解依赖于一个完整的联合皮层的多感觉增强，并模拟在SC响应的变化，发生在NMDA受体阻滞。最后，它使可测试的预测为什么显着的反应差异，在多感觉SC神经元时，他们面临着对跨模态和模态内的刺激。通过假设合理的生物学机制来补充那些已知的机制，该模型为理解SC神经元如何能够参与这一非凡的过程提供了基础。
Neurons in the cat superior colliculus (SC) integrate information from different senses to enhance their responses to cross-modal stimuli. These multisensory SC neurons receive multiple converging unisensory inputs from many sources; those received from association cortex are critical for the manifestation of multisensory integration. The mechanisms underlying this characteristic property of SC neurons are not completely understood, but can be clarified with the use of mathematical models and computer simulations. Thus the objective of the current effort was to present a plausible model that can explain the main physiological features of multisensory integration based on the current neurological literature regarding the influences received by SC from cortical and subcortical sources. The model assumes the presence of competitive mechanisms between inputs, nonlinearities in NMDA receptor responses, and provides a priori synaptic weights to mimic the normal responses of SC neurons. As a result, it provides a basis for understanding the dependence of multisensory enhancement on an intact association cortex, and simulates the changes in the SC response that occur during NMDA receptor blockade. Finally, it makes testable predictions about why significant response differences are obtained in multisensory SC neurons when they are confronted with pairs of cross-modal and within-modal stimuli. By postulating plausible biological mechanisms to complement those that are already known, the model provides a basis for understanding how SC neurons are capable of engaging in this remarkable process.