Our long-term goal is to understand neuronal mechanisms that underlie hearing. All acoustic information from the environment enters the brain via the auditory nerve and synpases in the cochlear nucleus. The cochlear nucleus in turn gives rise to the ascending pathways. The perception of sound is normally attributed to processing by these ascending pathways, but data are accumulating that stimulus context also plays a major role. That is, the meaning of a sound depends not only on spectral and temporal characteristics, but also on the past history and behavioral state of the animal. This contextual information could be provided by descending auditory pathways and neural systems not traditionally considered """"""""auditory."""""""" In this application, we plan to study the interface between these ascending and descending systems. We propose that the granule cell domain of the cochlear nucleus represents a key site for the integration of multimodal influences. Preliminary data reveal that, in addition to descending auditory projections, there are somatosensory, vestibular and motor inputs to the granular cell domain. For the present application, we will apply anterograde and retrograde tract tracing methods to identify these neurons and their circuits, immunocytochemical staining procedures to reveal the chemistry of the different neurons and their terminals, and electrophysiological recording techniques to characterize the response properties of neurons projecting to this region. The data from this research will provide new knowledge on the synpatic organization of the highly integrative structure in the auditory system, and yield insights into how diverse neural systems shape the coding process for hearing.
| Muniak, Michael A; Ryugo, David K (2014) Tonotopic organization of vertical cells in the dorsal cochlear nucleus of the CBA/J mouse. J Comp Neurol 522:937-49 |
| Muniak, Michael A; Rivas, Alejandro; Montey, Karen L et al. (2013) 3D model of frequency representation in the cochlear nucleus of the CBA/J mouse. J Comp Neurol 521:1510-32 |
| Lauer, Amanda M; Connelly, Catherine J; Graham, Heather et al. (2013) Morphological characterization of bushy cells and their inputs in the laboratory mouse (Mus musculus) anteroventral cochlear nucleus. PLoS One 8:e73308 |
| Muniak, Michael A; Mayko, Zachary M; Ryugo, David K et al. (2012) Preparation of an awake mouse for recording neural responses and injecting tracers. J Vis Exp : |
| Lauer, Amanda M; Fuchs, Paul A; Ryugo, David K et al. (2012) Efferent synapses return to inner hair cells in the aging cochlea. Neurobiol Aging 33:2892-902 |
| Ryugo, David K; Menotti-Raymond, Marilyn (2012) Feline deafness. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 42:1179-207 |
| Jin, David; Ohlemiller, Kevin K; Lei, Debin et al. (2011) Age-related neuronal loss in the cochlea is not delayed by synaptic modulation. Neurobiol Aging 32:2321.e13-23 |
| Nayagam, Bryony A; Muniak, Michael A; Ryugo, David K (2011) The spiral ganglion: connecting the peripheral and central auditory systems. Hear Res 278:2-20 |
| Rubio, M E; Gudsnuk, K A; Smith, Y et al. (2008) Revealing the molecular layer of the primate dorsal cochlear nucleus. Neuroscience 154:99-113 |
| Zhan, Xiping; Ryugo, David K (2007) Projections of the lateral reticular nucleus to the cochlear nucleus in rats. J Comp Neurol 504:583-98 |
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