The sense of hearing contributes significantly to our quality of life. Indeed, the auditory system plays a fundamental role in our awareness of our local environment, communication, and our ability to enjoy music. However, the mechanisms underlying the processing and encoding of sensory information in the brain are not clear. To address this question, we study the properties of neuronal circuits in the auditory cortex, a higher brain region important for sound perception. The long-term objective of our research is to understand how the interplay of different types of excitatory and inhibitory circuits regulate sensory information processing in the brain. The experiments proposed employ optical recording techniques to study the response properties of large ensembles of neurons in auditory cortex.
Specific Aim 1 proposes the development of a strategy for chronic, in vivo two-photon recording of activity from identified cell populations in the primary auditory cortex of awake, head-fixed mice. We will use this approach to determine the tuning properties and spatial organization of principal cells in different cortical layers as well as distinct subtypes of inhibitory interneurons.
Specific Aim 2 proposes to investigate how sensory representations in adult auditory cortex are shaped by experience. We hypothesize that brief daily experience to sounds causes a long-lasting habituation of cortical principal cell responses mediated by local inhibitory interneurons.
Specific Aim 3 proposes to investigate how cortical activity is modulated by sound-guided behavior. We hypothesize that engagement in an auditory task rapidly enhances cortical representations to sounds compared to passive listening. Moreover, this modulation by sound-guided behavior is also due to changes in the activity of local interneurons. Together, these experiments will show that cortical sensory representations are highly flexible and bidirectionally modulated by local inhibitory circuits that regulate the salience of acoustic stimuli.

Public Health Relevance

We propose examining how changes in experience and behavior modulate the representation of auditory information in the brain. Dysfunction in the cortical processing we study could contribute to major cognitive disorders such as schizophrenia and autism.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DC015239-04
Application #
9838220
Study Section
Auditory System Study Section (AUD)
Program Officer
Poremba, Amy
Project Start
2017-01-01
Project End
2021-12-31
Budget Start
2020-01-01
Budget End
2020-12-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California, San Diego
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804355790
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093
Kato, Hiroyuki K; Asinof, Samuel K; Isaacson, Jeffry S (2017) Network-Level Control of Frequency Tuning in Auditory Cortex. Neuron 95:412-423.e4
Gillet, Shea N; Kato, Hiroyuki K; Justen, Marissa A et al. (2017) Fear Learning Regulates Cortical Sensory Representations by Suppressing Habituation. Front Neural Circuits 11:112