Descending projections from auditory cortex have been postulated to play a role in a wide variety of functions including selective attention, sound localization, gain control, and frequency selectivity. One of the largest of the descending projections is to the inferior colliculus. We intend to use a combination of anatomical tracing and electron microscopic techniques to elucidate the targets of these projections. Cortical projections terminate in the same area of the inferior colliculus as collicular cells that have ascending projections and cells that have descending projections. Therefore our first two goals are to identify if these cortical projections contact cells in the inferior colliculus that have ascending projections to the medial geniculate, or cells that have descending projections to the superior olivary complex and cochlear nucleus. To better understand the functional role of the pathways, our third goal is to determine whether cells in the inferior colliculus that contain y-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an important inhibitory neurotransmitter, are also contacted by cortical projections. Answers to these questions are necessary to ascertain which brainstem circuits are modulated by cortical projections and what role they may play in both normal and diseased auditory systems.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31DC005277-02
Application #
6523311
Study Section
Communication Disorders Review Committee (CDRC)
Program Officer
Sklare, Dan
Project Start
2002-08-01
Project End
Budget Start
2002-08-01
Budget End
2003-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$22,373
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Louisville
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Louisville
State
KY
Country
United States
Zip Code
40292
Mellott, J G; Motts, S D; Schofield, B R (2011) Multiple origins of cholinergic innervation of the cochlear nucleus. Neuroscience 180:138-47
Schofield, Brett R; Motts, Susan D; Mellott, Jeffrey G (2011) Cholinergic cells of the pontomesencephalic tegmentum: connections with auditory structures from cochlear nucleus to cortex. Hear Res 279:85-95
Coomes Peterson, Diana; Schofield, Brett R (2007) Projections from auditory cortex contact ascending pathways that originate in the superior olive and inferior colliculus. Hear Res 232:67-77
Schofield, Brett R; Coomes, Diana L; Schofield, Ryan M (2006) Cells in auditory cortex that project to the cochlear nucleus in guinea pigs. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 7:95-109
Schofield, Brett R; Coomes, Diana L (2006) Pathways from auditory cortex to the cochlear nucleus in guinea pigs. Hear Res 216-217:81-9
Schofield, Brett R; Coomes, Diana L (2005) Projections from auditory cortex contact cells in the cochlear nucleus that project to the inferior colliculus. Hear Res 206:3-11
Schofield, Brett R; Coomes, Diana L (2005) Auditory cortical projections to the cochlear nucleus in guinea pigs. Hear Res 199:89-102
Coomes, Diana L; Schofield, Ryan M; Schofield, Brett R (2005) Unilateral and bilateral projections from cortical cells to the inferior colliculus in guinea pigs. Brain Res 1042:62-72
Coomes, Diana L; Schofield, Brett R (2004) Projections from the auditory cortex to the superior olivary complex in guinea pigs. Eur J Neurosci 19:2188-200
Coomes, Diana L; Schofield, Brett R (2004) Separate projections from the inferior colliculus to the cochlear nucleus and thalamus in guinea pigs. Hear Res 191:67-78

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