NEURAL PROCESSING OF COMMUNICATION SOUNDS

这里提出的研究旨在开发一种更好的 了解通信信号的关键特征有多重要 由大脑中的神经回路进行编码和处理。具体的 目标是阐明基本的神经生物学过程。 自然的听觉交流。听觉神经系统有 在交流中处理重要时间线索的任务 信号，无论是在人类语音中还是在声学通信中 不同种类的其他脊椎动物。最基本的 脊椎动物的听觉通路的组织结构是相似的 类，某些种类的脊椎动物特别 对于解决与神经生物学有关的问题很有价值 他们的听力、交流和学习过程 归并。 特别是，这里提出的神经生理学研究解决了 基础神经科学中可能相关的问题 引入精神健康问题，包括设计治疗方法 有听觉相关学习功能障碍的个体。近期 研究表明，对听觉时间线索的辨别能力较差 语言障碍儿童可能是广谱语言障碍的根源 学习障碍。 提出的研究重点是时间的神经加工。 脊椎动物听觉系统的特征 用于求爱交流的一组有限的简单声音。通过 进行神经解剖学和神经生理学实验 多刺蚁的听性脑干(即听神经到 中脑)、用于编码时间的衬底和方法 我们将研究声学刺激的特点。关于以下方面的新知识 正常的脊椎动物神经系统如何对这些信号做出反应 将为设计所需的基础生物医学科学做出贡献 对功能障碍的知情治疗。 在这项研究中，鱼是一个很好的动物模型。 因为：1.它的声音曲目经过了仔细的刻画， 2.其语音的主要特征是时间模式，3. 它的耳朵似乎是适应时间分析的(动物~S听力是 基于与人类耳朵中发现的毛细胞类似的一组毛细胞，但 它没有机械频率分析器，就像在 哺乳动物耳蜗虫)。 这种动物在单个神经元方面也被证明是杰出的。 听觉的生理学和解剖学研究 路径。这项拟议的研究结合了神经生理学 神经解剖路径示踪法在听觉系统研究中的应用 从那些已经被描述为 生理上的。在谨慎地选择了一个合适的 动物模型，我期待着朝着更好的方向前进 对脊椎动物基本机制的认识 沟通。

The research proposed here is directed toward developing a better understanding of how critical features of communication signals are coded and processed by neural circuits in the brain. The specific goal is to elucidate neurobiological processes which are fundamental to natural auditory communication. Auditory nervous systems have the task of processing important timing cues in communication signals, whether in human speech or in the acoustic communication of a diverse array of other vertebrate animals. The basic organization of auditory pathways is similar across vertebrate classes, and certain species of vertebrate animals are particularly valuable for addressing issues relating to the neurobiology of hearing, communication, and the learning processes which they subsume. In particular, the neurophysiological studies proposed here address problems in fundamental neuroscience which are potentially relevant to import mental health issues, including the design of treatments for individuals with auditory-related learning dysfunctions. Recent studies suggest that poor discrimination of auditory time cues by language impaired children may lie at the root of a broad spectrum of learning disorders. The proposed research focuses on the neural processing of time features in the auditory system of a vertebrate animal which uses a limited set of simple sounds for courtship communication. By conducting neuroanatomical and neurophysiological experiments in the auditory brainstem of Pollimyrus (ie., auditory nerve to midbrain), the substrate and method for the coding of temporal features in sonic stimuli will be examined. New knowledge about how the normal vertebrate nervous system responds to these signals will contribute to the basic biomedical science needed to design informed treatments of dysfunction. The fish (Pollimyrus) is an excellent animal model for this research because: 1. Its repertoire of sounds has been carefully characterized, 2. The dominant features of its sounds are temporal patterns, and 3. Its ear appears to be adapted time analysis (the animal~s hearing is based on an array of hair cells like that found in the human ear, but it does not posses a mechanical frequency analyzer like in the mammalian cochlea). This animal has also proven to be outstanding for single neuron physiological studies and for anatomical studies of the auditory pathway. The proposed research combines neurophysiological studies of the auditory system with neuroanatomical pathway tracing from those auditory centers which have been characterized physiologically. Having made a careful choice of an appropriate animal model, I expect that progress will be made toward a better understanding of fundamental mechanisms of vertebrate communication.