Spectral and Temporal Integration in the Auditory System

描述(申请人提供)：我们的长期目标是阐明神经活动、声音处理、知觉和行为之间的关系。我们特别建议在非人类受试者的初级听觉皮质(A1)和前侧带区(AL)建立神经活动与区分时间和频谱声音特征的关系。在此之前，我们已经确定了它们检测和区分时间和频谱声音特征的能力。我们现在探讨的问题是：听觉皮质核心区和带区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有关？这三个目标旨在比较核心区域和侧带区域中与这些问题相关的三个基本方面，以确定沿提升皮质通路处理的重点的变化。目标1是确定频谱和时间调制检测的神经基础。目的2是确定听觉皮层的单个神经元反应如何与知觉和行为选择有关。目的3是确定行为状态和任务投入对神经元编码时间调制能力的影响。为了实现这些目标，我们将建立单个单位听觉皮质(AC)活动与神经元和非人类受试者辨别声音的能力之间的定量关系，并确定哪些代码最有可能构成感知能力的基础。我们还将在非人类受试者辨别声音时从单个单元进行记录，以确定初级和次级感觉皮层区域在从感觉到任务执行的转换中所起的作用。这将让我们深入了解积极参与一项任务如何在单个神经元水平上提高神经处理能力，以及初级感觉皮质是否接收信息或参与导致行动的过程。由于该提议将大脑功能与大脑的不同部分联系起来，这对于更好地理解点状脑损伤(如中风导致的脑损伤)如何影响听觉功能具有重要意义。这些研究的结果将有助于我们更好地理解聆听声音是如何调节听觉活动的，从而使这项基础科学与频谱障碍(包括但不限于注意力缺陷障碍、阅读障碍等)具有相关性。由于神经编码和专注于声音的能力都与设计这些设备相关，因此这一结果也可能有助于指导助听器和人工耳蜗的编码方法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): 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 temporal and spectral sound features in the primary auditory cortex (A1) and anterior lateral belt area (AL) of non-human subjects. Previously, we have determined their ability to detect and discriminate temporal and spectral sound features. We now approach the question: How do neuronal responses in auditory cortical core and belt areas relate to non-human subjects' psychophysical and behavioral performance? The three aims are designed to compare three fundamental aspects related to these issues in a core and in a lateral belt area to determine the changing emphasis of processing along the ascending cortical pathway. Aim 1 is to determine the neural basis of spectral and temporal modulation detection. Aim 2 is to determine how single neuron responses from auditory cortex are related to perception and behavioral choices. Aim 3 is to determine the effect of behavioral state and task-engagement on neurons ability to encode temporal modulations. To achieve these aims, we will establish the quantitative relationships between single unit auditory cortical (AC) 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 units while non-human subjects discriminate sound 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 active engagement in a task improves neural processing ability 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 brain function to different parts of the brain it is relevant for a better understanding about how punctate brain damage such as that cause 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.