Neuronal Structure and Function in A Sensory Processor

Heiligenberg, Walter

Abstract

Due to its relative simplicity, the electrosensory system is ideally suited for the integration of behavioral and cellular approaches and, therefore, has led to most detailed explanations of stimulus perception and motor performance at the single-cell level. The electric sense shares basic principles in the coding of sensory information with more advanced sensory modalities, such as vision and audition in birds and mammals, and thus provides a convenient model system for studying neuronal mechanisms of information processing in general. Most significantly, some behavioral responses of electric fish are so robust that they remain intact in physiological preparations, thus allowing simultaneous studies at the behavioral and cellular level. The current project will continue to explore the structural and functional organization of the torus semicircularis, a laminated midbrain structure homologous to the inferior colliculus of mammals, which processes temporal and spatial aspects of electrosensory information. By using quartz glass pipettes (prepared by the new 'laser puller' of the Sutter Company), even very small cells, with soma diameters in the range of 5 micra, can now be penetrated and labelled intracellularly. This offers the opportunity of labelling and recording from neurons that could barely be explored in the past. One of these small-neuron types resides in lamina 6 of the torus and computes temporal disparities in the arrival of two inputs, comparable to the processing of interaural time differences in auditory systems. The temporal resolution of these neurons appears to be in the microsecond range. In addition to studies in largely intact fish, we intend to explore functional and structural properties of the torus in slice preparations. Due to the anatomical organization of projections to the torus, one could stimulate lamina 6 of the torus in a near natural manner and explore the physiological properties of small cells under the enhanced mechanical stability of a slice preparation.

Funding Agency

Agency: National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type: Research Project (R01)
Project #: 2R01NS022244-08A1
Application #: 3404429
Study Section: Hearing Research Study Section (HAR)

Project Start: 1985-12-01
Project End: 1997-06-30
Budget Start: 1993-07-01
Budget End: 1994-06-30
Support Year: 8
Fiscal Year: 1993
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

Institution

Name: University of California San Diego
Department
Type: Schools of Earth Sciences/Natur
DUNS #: 077758407

City: La Jolla
State: CA
Country: United States
Zip Code: 92093

Related projects


NIH 1995 R01 NS	Neuronal Structure and Function in A Sensory Processor Bullock, Theodore H. / University of California San Diego
NIH 1994 R01 NS	Neuronal Structure and Function in A Sensory Processor Bullock, Theodore H. / University of California San Diego
NIH 1993 R01 NS	Neuronal Structure and Function in A Sensory Processor Heiligenberg, Walter F. / University of California San Diego
NIH 1992 R01 NS	Neuronal Structure and Function in A Sensory Processor Heiligenberg, Walter F. / University of California San Diego
NIH 1991 R01 NS	Neuronal Structure and Function in A Sensory Processor Heiligenberg, Walter F. / University of California San Diego
NIH 1990 R01 NS	Neuronal Structure and Function in A Sensory Processor Heiligenberg, Walter F. / University of California San Diego
NIH 1989 R01 NS	Neuronal Structure and Function in A Sensory Processor Heiligenberg, Walter F. / University of California San Diego
NIH 1988 R01 NS	Neuronal Structure and Function in A Sensory Processor Heiligenberg, Walter F. / University of California San Diego
NIH 1987 R01 NS	Neuronal Structure and Function in A Sensory Processor Heiligenberg, Walter F. / University of California San Diego
NIH 1986 R01 NS	Neuronal Structure and Function in A Sensory Processor Heiligenberg, Walter F. / University of California San Diego