Neural processing of novel sounds

新颖声音是在模式和/或位置上偏离恒定或重复呈现的声学背景的声学事件。新的声音通常携带行为上重要的信息。在某些情况下，这些声音甚至可以发出危及生命的信号。因此，神经系统的一个重要功能是检测这些声音。 关于听觉神经元如何处理与声音位置偏差相关的信息的知识对于理解负责检测新声音的神经机制是重要的。我的团队目前的目标是研究这种神经处理。大鼠将用作哺乳动物模型，因为其具有高度发达的听力，包括对新声音的敏感性。我们的研究将主要集中在听觉中脑，因为现有的神经生理学和神经解剖学证据表明，这种神经结构是重要的听觉处理新的声音位置。我们将确定神经对声音位置偏差的敏感性如何取决于左右耳驱动的神经信号之间的相互作用。我们将研究这种敏感性如何依赖于神经递质受体，即，从其他神经元接收化学信号的细胞膜蛋白。我们还将确定这种敏感性如何依赖于听觉中脑和其他神经结构（包括听觉皮层）之间的神经连接。这项拟议中的研究将提供有关听觉中脑是否有助于在声学世界中选择性处理新声音的机制的信息。它还将帮助我们了解前注意过程对听觉感官记忆的形成很重要。因此，我们的研究对于理解听觉机制具有重要意义。

A novel sound is an acoustic event deviant in pattern and/or location from a constantly or repetitively presented acoustic background . Novel sounds typically carry behaviourally significant information. Under certain conditions, these sounds can even signal life-threatening incidents. Therefore, it is an important function of the nervous system to detect these sounds. Knowledge regarding how auditory neurons process information related to the deviation in sound location is important for understanding neural mechanisms responsible for the detection of novel sounds. The current goal of my group is to study this neural processing. The rat will be used as a mammalian animal model as it has a highly developed hearing ability including sensitivity to novel sounds. Our research will be focused primarily on the auditory midbrain, as existing neurophysiological and neuroanatomical evidence suggests that this neural structure is important for the auditory processing of novel sound location. We will determine how neural sensitivity to the deviation in sound location is dependent on the interaction among neural signals driven by the left and the right ears. We will investigate how this sensitivity is dependent on neurotransmitter receptors, i.e., cell-membrane proteins receiving chemical signals from other neurons. We will also determine how this sensitivity is dependent on neural connections between the auditory midbrain and other neural structures including the auditory cortex. The proposed research will provide information as to whether the auditory midbrain contributes to a mechanism responsible for selective processing of novel sounds in the acoustic world. It will also help us understand pre-attentive processes important for the formation of auditory sensory memory. Therefore our research will be significant for understanding hearing mechanisms.