The experiments of this proposal use three-dimensional recordings of electrical potentials produced by brain cells in response to sound stimulation (auditory evoked potentials or AEPs) to explore how the rat's brain processes auditory information. These experiments will provide a basis for understanding the relationship between the function of auditory cortex as measured in the AEP and underlying anatomy in the rodent, bridging the gap in out understanding between single cell properties in auditory cortex and the response properties of larger systems of nerve cells. This work will also serve to verify and improve physiological and mathematical models used to interpret the AEP, advancing the use of evoked potential measurement as an invasive and noninvasive tool for investigating brain function in animals and in man.//
