Spectral and Temporal Integration in the Auditory System

我们的长期目标是阐明神经活动、声音处理、感知之间的关系 和行为。我们特别建议建立神经活动与辨别力的关系， 检测非人类受试者的初级听觉皮层（A1）和侧带中的声音特征， 目的是揭示随着听觉皮层层次的提升而发生的变化。我们 解决这个问题：听觉皮层中的神经元反应如何与非人类受试者的 心理物理和行为表现在辨别声音调制？这三个目标是 旨在比较与A1中的这些问题和A1中的横向带中的这些问题相关的三个基本方面， 听觉皮层，以确定沿着上行皮层通路的处理重点的变化。 目的1是确定调制辨别的神经基础。目标2是确定 行为状态和听觉注意对神经元编码声音特征的能力的影响。目标3。是 确定来自听觉皮层的神经元反应如何与感知、任务参数相关， 行为选择。为了实现这些目标，我们将建立单个 神经元听觉皮层活动以及神经元和非人类受试者辨别 声音，并确定哪些代码最有可能构成感知能力。我们也将记录从单 神经元，而非人类受试者用注意力执行不同的声音辨别任务。 干扰物，以确定初级和次级感觉皮层区域在转换中的作用 从感觉到任务表现。这将使我们深入了解注意力如何改善神经处理 在单个神经元水平，以及初级感觉皮层是否接受信息或参与 导致行动的过程。因为这个提议将功能与大脑的不同部分联系起来， 这与更好地理解点状脑损伤，如中风引起的脑损伤， 影响听觉功能这些研究的结果将有助于我们更好地了解如何参加 声音调节听觉活动，从而使这一基础科学与频谱相关 障碍（包括但不限于注意力缺陷障碍、诵读困难等）。结果还 可能有助于指导助听器和人工耳蜗的编码方法 因为神经编码和专注于声音的能力都与设计这些设备有关。

Our long-term goal is to elucidate the relationship between neural activity, sound processing, perception and behavior. We specifically propose to establish the relationship of neural activity to discriminating and detecting sound features in the primary auditory cortex (A1) and lateral belt of non-human subjects with the goal of revealing the transformations occurring as the auditory cortical hierarchy is ascended. We address the question: How do neuronal responses in auditory cortex relate to non-human subjects' psychophysical and behavioral performance in discriminating sound modulation? The three aims are designed to compare three fundamental aspects related to these issues in A1 and in the lateral belt of auditory cortex to determine the changing emphasis of processing along the ascending cortical pathway. Aim 1 is to determine the neural basis of modulation discrimination. Aim 2 is to determine the effect of behavioral state and auditory attention on neurons ability to encode sound features. Aim 3. is to determine how neuronal responses from auditory cortex are related to perception, task-parameters, and behavioral choices. To achieve these aims, we will establish the quantitative relationships between single neuron auditory cortical activity and the ability of neurons and non-human subjects to discriminate sounds, and determine what codes most likely underlie perceptual ability. We will also record from single neurons while non-human subjects perform different sound discrimination tasks with attentional distractors to determine the role of primary and secondary sensory cortical areas in the transformation from sensation to task performance. This will give insight into how attention improves neural processing at the single neuron level and whether primary sensory cortex receives information or is involved in the processes that lead to action. Because the proposal relates function to different parts of the brain it is relevant for a better understanding about how punctate brain damage such as that caused by stroke affects auditory function. The results of these studies will help us to better understand how attending sound modulates auditory activity and thus makes this basic science have relevance for the spectrum disorders (that include, but are not limited to attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, etc). The results also could have relevance in helping to guide approaches to coding for hearing aids and cochlear implants since both neural coding and the ability to focus on sounds are relevant for designing these devices.