This is a proposal to study the structure, connections, and neurochemical organization of the primary auditory cortex (AI), medial geniculate body, and inferior colliculus in several species. This work aims at defining the principal types of neurons participating in corticifugal and thalamocortical relations, and the cells projecting between different cortical areas or within single layers in AI. These pathways play a critical role in the normal flow of auditory information related to sound localization or the analysis of speech, and damage to them produces a spectrum of neurobehavioral dysfunctions not limited to purely auditory deficits. In a series of experiments in rats, cats, bats, and monkeys several questions are considered using axoplasmically transported tracers or immunocytochemical techniques; each inquiry is directed primarily to one species, and may include others for comparative purposes since previous work finds parallels in auditory organization as well as species-specific differences with important functional implications. The experiments include studies of (i) thalamocortical terminations in AI, including their laminar targets, form, and transmitter-specific labeling of geniculorecipient neurons; (ii) the types of commissural neurons participating in physiologically-defined binaural cortical subregions; (iii) patterns of ipsilateral corticocortical projections between AI and the non-primary fields; (iv) the local connections within single AI laminae, and between subdivisions of AI; (v) the targets and structure of AI axons projecting to the inferior colliculus; (vi) the populations of cortical neurons immunoreactive for putative transmitters, such as gamma- aminobutyric acid or glutamic acid decarboxylase, and glutamate; (vii) the identification of the transmitter(s) of thalamocortical projection and intrinsic neurons; (viii) the comparative analysis of GABAergic inferior colliculus neurons and axon terminals; and (ix) the form of auditory dendrites in several species at different levels of the auditory pathway. The goal of this work is a clearer picture of the main neural circuits implicated in binaural pathways or frequency analysis of sound, and the nature of species differences and homologous neurons. Such patterns embody the larger questions of parallel and hierarchical processing in AI and in the primary visual and somatic sensory cortices, and are critical to a more developed picture of cortical function.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DC002319-17
Application #
2014545
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-CMS (01))
Project Start
1980-12-01
Project End
2000-11-30
Budget Start
1996-12-01
Budget End
1997-11-30
Support Year
17
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Berkeley
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
094878337
City
Berkeley
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94704
Kishan, Amar U; Lee, Charles C; Winer, Jeffery A (2011) Patterns of olivocochlear axonal branches. Open J Neurosci 1:
Yuan, Kexin; Shih, Jonathan Y; Winer, Jeffery A et al. (2011) Functional networks of parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons in cat auditory cortex. J Neurosci 31:13333-42
Winer, Jeffery A; Bui, Lynne A; Hong, Jane H et al. (2011) GABAergic organization of the auditory cortex in the mustached bat (Pteronotus p. parnellii). Hear Res 274:105-20
Lee, Charles C; Winer, Jeffery A (2011) Convergence of thalamic and cortical pathways in cat auditory cortex. Hear Res 274:85-94
Yuan, Kexin; Fink, Kathren L; Winer, Jeffery A et al. (2011) Local connection patterns of parvalbumin-positive inhibitory interneurons in rat primary auditory cortex. Hear Res 274:121-8
Lee, Charles C; Kishan, Amar U; Winer, Jeffery A (2011) Wiring of divergent networks in the central auditory system. Front Neuroanat 5:46
Read, Heather L; Nauen, David W; EscabĂ­, Monty A et al. (2011) Distinct core thalamocortical pathways to central and dorsal primary auditory cortex. Hear Res 274:95-104
Song, Yohan; Mellott, Jeffrey G; Winer, Jeffery A (2011) Microvascular organization of the cat inferior colliculus. Hear Res 274:5-12
Ye, Chang-quan; Poo, Mu-ming; Dan, Yang et al. (2010) Synaptic mechanisms of direction selectivity in primary auditory cortex. J Neurosci 30:1861-8
Zhang, Si-yu; Xu, Min; Miao, Qing-long et al. (2009) Endocannabinoid-dependent homeostatic regulation of inhibitory synapses by miniature excitatory synaptic activities. J Neurosci 29:13222-31

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