A hierarchical method for generating low-energy conformers of a protein-ligand complex

Auditory cortex of macaque monkeys can be divided into a core of primary or primary-like areas located on the lower bank of the lateral sulcus, a surrounding narrow belt of associated fields, and a parabelt region just lateral to the belt on the superior temporal gyrus. We determined patterns of ipsilateral cortical connections of the parabelt region by placing injections of four to seven distinguishable tracers in each of five monkeys. Results were related to architectonic subdivisions of auditory cortex in brain sections cut parallel to the surface of artificially flattened cortex (four cases) or cut in the coronal plane (one case). An auditory core was clearly apparent in these sections as a 16- to 20-mm rostrocaudally elongated oval, several millimeters from the lip of the sulcus, that stained darkly for parvalbumin, myelin, and acetylcholinesterase. These features were most pronounced caudally in the cortex assigned to auditory area I, only slightly reduced in the rostral area, and most reduced in the narrower rostral extension we define as the rostrotemporal area. A narrow band of cortex surrounding the core stained more moderately for parvalbumin, acetylcholinesterase, and myelin. Two regions of the caudal belt, the caudomedial area, and the mediolateral area, stained more darkly, especially for parvalbumin. Rostromedial and medial rostrotemporal, regions of the medial belt stained more lightly for parvalbumin than the caudomedial area or the lateral belt. The parabelt region stained less darkly than the core and belt fields. Injections confined to the parabelt region labeled few neurons in the core, but large numbers in parts of the belt, the parabelt, and adjacent portions of the temporal lobe. Injections that encroached on the belt labeled large numbers of neurons in the core and helped define the width of the belt. Caudal injections in the parabelt labeled caudal portions of the belt, rostral injections labeled rostral portions, and both caudal and rostral injections labeled neurons in the rostromedial area of the medial belt. These observations support the concept of dividing the auditory cortex into core, belt, and parabelt; provide evidence for including the rostral area in the core; suggest the existence of as many as seven or eight belt fields; provide evidence for at least two subdivisions of the parabelt; and identify regions of the temporal lobe involved in auditory processing.     

Representation of spectral and temporal sound features in three cortical fields of the cat. Similarities outweigh differences

This study investigates the degree of similarity of three different auditory cortical areas with respect to the coding of periodic stimuli. Simultaneous single- and multiunit recordings in response to periodic stimuli were made from primary auditory cortex (AI), anterior auditory field (AAF), and secondary auditory cortex (AII) in the cat to addresses the following questions: is there, within each cortical area, a difference in the temporal coding of periodic click trains, amplitude-modulated (AM) noise bursts, and AM tone bursts? Is there a difference in this coding between the three cortical fields? Is the coding based on the temporal modulation transfer function (tMTF) and on the all-order interspike-interval (ISI) histogram the same? Is the perceptual distinction between rhythm and roughness for AM stimuli related to a temporal versus spatial representation of AM frequency in auditory cortex? Are interarea differences in temporal response properties related to differences in frequency tuning? The results showed that: 1) AM stimuli produce much higher best modulation frequencies (BMFs) and limiting rates than periodic click trains. 2) For periodic click trains and AM noise, the BMFs and limiting rates were not significantly different for the three areas. However, for AM tones the BMF and limiting rates were about a factor 2 lower in AAF compared with the other areas. 3) The representation of stimulus periodicity in ISIs resulted in significantly lower mean BMFs and limiting rates compared with those estimated from the tMTFs. The difference was relatively small for periodic click trains but quite large for both AM stimuli, especially in AI and AII. 4) Modulation frequencies <20 Hz were represented in the ISIs, suggesting that rhythm is coded in auditory cortex in temporal fashion. 5) In general only a modest interdependence of spectral- and temporal-response properties in AI and AII was found. The BMFs were correlated positively with characteristic frequency in AAF. The limiting rate was positively correlated with the frequency-tuning curve bandwidth in AI and AII but not in AAF. Only in AAF was a correlation between BMF and minimum latency was found. Thus whereas differences were found in the frequency-tuning curve bandwidth and minimum response latencies among the three areas, the coding of periodic stimuli in these areas was fairly similar with the exception of the very poor representation of AM tones in AII. This suggests a strong parallel processing organization in auditory cortex.     

Prefrontal connections of the parabelt auditory cortex in macaque monkeys

In the present study, we determined connections of three newly defined regions of auditory cortex with regions of the frontal lobe, and how two of these regions in the frontal lobe interconnect and connect to other portions of frontal cortex and the temporal lobe in macaque monkeys. We conceptualize auditory cortex as including a core of primary areas, a surrounding belt of auditory areas, a lateral parabelt of two divisions, and adjoining regions of temporal cortex with parabelt connections. Injections of several different fluorescent tracers and wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) were placed in caudal (CPB) and rostral (RPB) divisions of the parabelt, and in cortex of the superior temporal gyrus rostral to the parabelt with parabelt connections (STGr). Injections were also placed in two regions of the frontal lobe that were labeled by a parabelt injection in the same case. The results lead to several major conclusions. First, CPB injections label many neurons in dorsal prearcuate cortex in the region of the frontal eye field and neurons in dorsal prefrontal cortex of the principal sulcus, but few or no neurons in orbitofrontal cortex. Fine-grain label in these same regions as a result of a WGA-HRP injection suggests that the connections are reciprocal. Second, RPB injections label overlapping prearcuate and principal sulcus locations, as well as more rostral cortex of the principal sulcus, and several locations in orbitofrontal cortex. Third, STGr injections label locations in orbitofrontal cortex, some of which overlap those of RPB injections, but not prearcuate or principal sulcus locations. Fourth, injections in prearcuate and principal sulcus locations labeled by a CPB injection labeled neurons in CPB and RPB, with little involvement of the auditory belt and no involvement of the core. In addition, the results indicated that the two frontal lobe regions are densely interconnected. They also connect with largely separate regions of the frontal pole and more medial premotor and dorsal prefrontal cortex, but not with the extensive orbitofrontal region which has RPB and STGr connections. The results suggest that both RPB and CPB provide the major auditory connections with the region related to directing eye movements towards stimuli of interest, and the dorsal prefrontal cortex for working memory. Other auditory connections to these regions of the frontal lobe appear to be minor. RPB has connections with orbitofrontal cortex, important in psychosocial and emotional functions, while STGr primarily connects with orbital and polar prefrontal cortex.     

Functional organization of owl monkey lateral geniculate nucleus and visual cortex

The nocturnal, New World owl monkey (Aotus trivirgatus) has a rod-dominated retina containing only a single cone type, supporting only the most rudimentary color vision. However, it does have well-developed magnocellular (M) and parvocellular (P) retinostriate pathways and striate cortical architecture [as defined by the pattern of staining for the activity-dependent marker cytochrome oxidase (CO)] similar to that seen in diurnal primates. We recorded from single neurons in anesthetized, paralyzed owl monkeys using drifting, luminance-modulated sinusoidal gratings, comparing receptive field properties of M and P neurons in the lateral geniculate nucleus and in V1 neurons assigned to CO "blob," "edge," and "interblob" regions and across layers. Tested with achromatic stimuli, the receptive field properties of M and P neurons resembled those reported for other primates. The contrast sensitivity of P cells in the owl monkey was similar to that of P cells in the macaque, but the contrast sensitivities of M cells in the owl monkey were markedly lower than those in the macaque. We found no differences in eye dominance, orientation, or spatial frequency tuning, temporal frequency tuning, or contrast response for V1 neurons assigned to different CO compartments; we did find fewer direction-selective cells in blobs than in other compartments. We noticed laminar differences in some receptive field properties. Cells in the supragranular layers preferred higher spatial and lower temporal frequencies and had lower contrast sensitivity than did cells in the granular and infragranular layers. Our data suggest that the receptive field properties across functional compartments in V1 are quite homogeneous, inconsistent with the notion that CO blobs anatomically segregate signals from different functional "streams."     

Neural processing in the subsecond time range in the temporal cortex

The hypothesis that cortical processing of the millisecond time range is performed by latency competition between the first spikes produced by neuronal populations is analyzed. First, theorems that describe how the mechanism of latency competition works in a model cortex are presented. The model is a sequence of cortical areas, each of which is an array of neuronal populations that laterally inhibit each other. Model neurons are integrate-and-fire neurons. Second, the model is applied to the ventral pathway of the temporal lobe, and neuronal activity of the superior temporal sulcus of the monkey is reproduced with the model pathway. It consists of seven areas: V1, V2/V3, V4, PIT, CIT, AIT, and STPa. Neural activity predicted with the model is compared with empirical data. There are four main results: (1) Neural responses of the area STPa of the model showed the same fast discrimination between stimuli that the corresponding responses of the monkey did: both were significant within 5 ms of the response onset. (2) The hypothesis requires that the response latency of cortical neurons should be shorter for stronger responses. This requirement was verified by both the model simulation and the empirical data. (3) The model reproduced fast discrimination even when spontaneous random firing of 9 Hz was introduced to all the cells. This suggests that the latency competition performed by neuronal populations is robust. (4) After the first few competitions, the mechanism of latency competition always detected the strongest of input activations with different latencies.     

Optic flow processing in monkey STS: a theoretical and experimental approach

How does the brain process visual information about self-motion? In monkey cortex, the analysis of visual motion is performed by successive areas specialized in different aspects of motion processing. Whereas neurons in the middle temporal (MT) area are direction-selective for local motion, neurons in the medial superior temporal (MST) area respond to motion patterns. A neural network model attempts to link these properties to the psychophysics of human heading detection from optic flow. It proposes that populations of neurons represent specific directions of heading. We quantitatively compared single-unit recordings in area MST with single-neuron simulations in this model. Predictions were derived from simulations and subsequently tested in recorded neurons. Neuronal activities depended on the position of the singular point in the optic flow. Best responses to opposing motions occurred for opposite locations of the singular point in the visual field. Excitation by one type of motion is paired with inhibition by the opposite motion. Activity maxima often occur for peripheral singular points. The averaged recorded shape of the response modulations is sigmoidal, which is in agreement with model predictions. We also tested whether the activity of the neuronal population in MST can represent the directions of heading in our stimuli. A simple least-mean-square minimization could retrieve the direction of heading from the neuronal activities with a precision of 4.3 degrees. Our results show good agreement between the proposed model and the neuronal responses in area MST and further support the hypothesis that area MST is involved in visual navigation.     

Subdivisions of auditory cortex and levels of processing in primates

In a series of experiments on New World and Old World monkeys, architectonic features of auditory cortex were related to tone frequency maps and patterns of connections to generate and evaluate theories of cortical organization. The results suggest that cortical processing of auditory information involves a number of functionally distinct fields that can be broadly grouped into four or more levels of processing. At the first level, there are three primary-like areas, each with a discrete pattern of tonotopic organization, koniocortical histological features, and direct inputs from the ventral division of the medial geniculate complex. These three core areas are interconnected and project to a narrow surrounding belt of perhaps seven areas which receive thalamic input from the major divisions of the medial geniculate complex, the suprageniculate/limitans complex, and the medial pulvinar. The belt areas connect with a lateral parabelt region of two or more fields that are almost devoid of direct connections with the core and the ventral division of the medial geniculate complex. The parabelt fields connect with more distant cortex in the superior temporal gyrus, superior temporal sulcus, and prefrontal cortex. The results indicate that auditory processing involves 15 or more cortical areas, each of which is interconnected with a number of other fields, especially adjoining fields of the same level.     

Auditory connections and neurochemistry of the sagulum

We studied the cytoarchitecture, neurochemical organization, and connections of the sagulum. The goal was to clarify its role in midbrain, lateral tegmental, and thalamic auditory processing. On cytoarchitectonic grounds, ventrolateral (parvocellular) and dorsomedial (magnocellular) subdivisions were recognized. The patterns of immunostaining for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine were distinct. Approximately 5-10% of the neurons were GABAergic, and more than one type was identified; GABAergic axon terminals were abundant in number and varied in form. Glycinergic neurons were much rarer, < 1% of the population, and glycinergic axon terminals were correspondingly sparse. Wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase was used for purposes of connectional mapping, and biotinylated dextran amines revealed the structure of corticosagular axons. All nine cortical areas injected project to the ipsilateral sagulum. Five (areas AI, AII, SF, EPD, and Te) had heavier projections than the others. Areas AI and AII projected throughout the rostrocaudal sagulum. Labeling from AI was moderate in density and concentrated in the central sagulum, whereas the input from AII was heavier and ended more laterally. Suprasylvian fringe input was light, especially caudally, and was chiefly in the central sagulum. The projection from the dorsal region of the posterior ectosylvian gyrus was comparatively stronger and was in the dorsolateral sagulum. Finally, the temporal cortex sent axons to the most lateral sagulum, spanning the dorsoventral extent, whereas insular cortex axons ended diffusely in the dorsolateral sagulum. Corticofugal axons ranged from fine boutons en passant to larger globular terminals. The sagulum may represent the earliest significant opportunity in the ascending auditory pathway for corticofugal modulation. The most extensive input arises from the polymodal association areas. The sagulum then projects divergently to the dorsal cortex of the inferior colliculus and the dorsal division of the medial geniculate body. The projection from the dorsal division of the auditory thalamus to nonprimary auditory cortex completes this circuit between the forebrain and the midbrain and represents a nexus in the ascending and descending auditory systems. Such circuits could play a critical role in auditory-motor adjustments to sound.     

Somatosensory and auditory convergence in the lateral nucleus of the amygdala.

Previous studies have shown that the lateral nucleus of the amygdala (AL) is essential in auditory fear conditioning and that neurons in the AL respond to auditory stimuli. The goals of the present study were to determine whether neurons in the AL are also responsive to somatosensory stimuli and, if so, whether single neurons in the AL respond to both auditory and somatosensory stimulation. Single-unit activity was recorded in the AL in anesthetized rats during the presentation of acoustic (clicks) and somatosensory (footshock) stimuli. Neurons in the dorsal subdivision of the AL responded to both somatosensory and auditory stimuli, whereas neurons in the ventrolateral AL responded only to somatosensory stimuli and neurons in the ventromedial AL did not respond to either stimuli. These findings indicate that the dorsal AL is a site of auditory and somatosensory convergence and may therefore be a focus of convergence of conditioned and unconditioned stimuli (CS and UCS) in auditory fear conditioning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Responses of MT and MST neurons to one and two moving objects in the receptive field

To test the effects of complex visual motion stimuli on the responses of single neurons in the middle temporal visual area (MT) and the medial superior temporal area (MST) of the macaque monkey, we compared the response elicited by one object in motion through the receptive field with the response of two simultaneously presented objects moving in different directions through the receptive field. There was an increased response to a stimulus moving in a direction other than the best direction when it was paired with a stimulus moving in the best direction. This increase was significant for all directions of motion of the non-best stimulus and the magnitude of the difference increased as the difference in the directions of the two stimuli increased. Similarly, there was a decreased response to a stimulus moving in a non-null direction when it was paired with a stimulus moving in the null direction. This decreased response in MT did not reach significance unless the second stimulus added to the null direction moved in the best direction, whereas in MST the decrease was significant when the second stimulus direction differed from the null by 90 degrees or more. Further analysis showed that the two-object responses were better predicted by taking the averaged response of the neuron to the two single-object stimuli than by summation, multiplication, or vector addition of the responses to each of the two single-object stimuli. Neurons in MST showed larger modulations than did neurons in MT with stimuli moving in both the best direction and in the null direction and the average better predicted the two-object response in area MST than in area MT. This indicates that areas MT and MST probably use a similar integrative mechanisms to create their responses to complex moving visual stimuli, but that this mechanism is further refined in MST. These experiments show that neurons in both MT and MST integrate the motion of all directions in their responses to complex moving stimuli. These results with the motion of objects were in sound agreement with those previously reported with the use of random dot patterns for the study of transparent motion in MT and suggest that these neurons use similar computational mechanisms in the processing of object and global motion stimuli.     

Comparative analysis of calcium-binding protein-immunoreactive neuronal populations in the auditory and visual systems of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and the macaque monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

This study compares the distribution of three calcium-binding protein-immunoreactive (CaBP-immunoreactive) neuronal populations (calretinin-, calbindin- and parvalbumin-immunoreactive) in the visual and auditory systems in two mammalian species which are fundamentally different in their evolutionary traits and ecology, the aquatic toothed whale Tursiops truncatus (bottlenose dolphin) and the terrestrial Old World primate, Macaca fascicularis (long-tailed macaque). Immunocytochemical analyses, combined with computerized morphometry revealed that in the visual and auditory systems of the bottlenose dolphin, calretinin and calbindin are the prevalent calcium-binding proteins, whereas parvalbumin is present in very few neurons. The prevalence of calretinin and calbindin-immunoreactive neurons is especially obvious in the auditory system of this species. In both auditory and visual systems of the macaque monkey, the parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons are present in comparable or higher densities than the calretinin and calbindin-immunoreactive neurons. In some structures of the visual and auditory systems of the macaque monkey, the calretinin- and calbindin-immunoreactive neurons are nearly absent. The prevalence of parvalbumin-immunoreactive over calretinin- and calbindin-immunoreactive neurons is particularly prominent in the visual system of primates. Thus, the dominant sensory systems in both aquatic and terrestrial mammals are enriched in specific phenotypes of calcium-binding protein-immunoreactive neurons.     

Anatomic organization of evoked potentials in rat parietotemporal cortex: somatosensory and auditory responses

1. Two 8 x 8-channel microelectrode arrays were used to map epicortical field potentials from a 3.5 x 3.5-mm2 area in homologous regions of right and left parietotemporal cortex of four rats. Potentials were evoked with bilaterally presented click stimuli and with bilateral tactile stimulation of the 25 major vibrissae. The spatial distribution of temporal components of the somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) and auditory evoked potential (AEP) complex were compared directly with cytochrome oxidase-stained sections of the recorded region. 2. Epicortical responses in both hemispheres to bilateral vibrissal stimuli consisted of a biphasic sharp wave (P1a-N1) constrained to the vibrissa/barrel granular region of primary somatosensory cortex (SmI). A slightly later sharp positive wave (P1b) was localized to secondary somatosensory cortex (SmII) and to perigranular cortex medial to the vibrissa/barrel field. The SEP complex ended with a biphasic slow wave (P2-N2). The P2 was centered on SmI and spread to dysgranular lateral cortex, caudal to but excluding SmII. The N2 was centered on SmII and spread to dysgranular cortex caudal to but excluding SmI. 3. The anatomic organization of the AEP in many ways approximated that of the SEP in the same animals. The timing and morphology of the AEP were nearly identical to the SEP. The AEP consisted of a P1a-N1 sharp wave constrained to the estimated region of primary auditory cortex (AI) in the lateral parietotemporal region, a later P1b localized to secondary auditory cortex (AII), and subsequent slow waves (P2 and N2) that were centered on AI and AII, respectively, and spread to dysgranular regions overlapping the distributions of the P2 and N2 of the SEP complex. 4. These data suggest that the basic neural generators for the SEP and AEP in parietotemporal cortex are quite similar, and provide evidence for the functional anatomy of each temporal component of the sensory evoked potential complex. It is concluded that the early fast waves of the SEP and AEP are modality specific and may represent the parallel activation of primary and secondary sensory cortex through established parallel afferent projections from lateral and medial thalamic nuclei. The later slow waves of the SEP and AEP appear to selectively involve primary and secondary sensory cortex but are more widely distributed, possibly reflecting a less modality-specific level of information processing in dysgranular cortex.     

Nociceptive neurons in the macaque anterior cingulate activate during anticipation of pain

Since the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is known to be involved both in nociception and in anticipation that precedes the avoidance of aversive stimuli, the linking of these functions may be processed in the ACC. To test this hypothesis, we recorded single neuronal activities in the ACC of a macaque monkey while it was performing a pain-avoidance task and examined them with nociceptive cutaneous electric stimuli (ES). Thirty-six neurons responded in anticipation of the ES. Of these, 22 neurons were tested with the ES and 11 responded. These neurons could be those that are involved both in nociception and in pain anticipation that precedes the avoidance of noxious stimuli.     

Overlapping and nonoverlapping cortical projections to cortex of the superior temporal sulcus in the rhesus monkey: double anterograde tracer studies

To examine how fibers from functionally distinct cortical zones interrelate within their target areas of the superior temporal sulcus (STS) in the rhesus monkey, separate anterograde tracers were injected in two different regions of the same hemisphere known to project to the STS. Paired injections were placed in dorsal prearcuate cortex and the caudal inferior parietal lobule (IPL), interconnected regions that are part of a hypothesized distributed network concerned with visuospatial analysis or directed attention; in a presumed auditory region of the superior temporal gyrus (STG) and in extrastriate visual cortex, the caudal IPL and lower rim of the intraparietal sulcus; and in dorsal prearcuate cortex and the STG. Overlapping and nonoverlapping projections were then examined in STS visual and polysensory areas. Prefrontal and parietal fibers directly overlapped extensively in area MST and all subdivisions of presumed polysensory cortex (areas TPOc, TPOi, and TPOr), although nonoverlapping connections were also found. Although STG and IPL fibers targeted all TPO subdivisions, connections were to nonoverlapping, but often adjacent, columns. Paired prefrontal and STG injections revealed largely nonoverlapping vertical columns of connections but substantial overlap within layers VI and I or areas TPOc and TPOi. The findings suggest that area TPO contains differently connected modules that may maintain at least initial segregation of visual versus auditory inputs. Other modules within area TPO receive directly converging input from the posterior parietal and the prefrontal cortices and may participate in a distributed cortical network concerned with visuospatial functions.     

A model for encoding multiple object motions and self-motion in area MST of primate visual cortex

Many cells in the dorsal part of the medial superior temporal (MST) region of visual cortex respond selectively to specific combinations of expansion/contraction, translation, and rotation motions. Previous investigators have suggested that these cells may respond selectively to the flow fields generated by self-motion of an observer. These patterns can also be generated by the relative motion between an observer and a particular object. We explored a neurally constrained model based on the hypothesis that neurons in MST partially segment the motion fields generated by several independently moving objects. Inputs to the model were generated from sequences of ray-traced images that simulated realistic motion situations, combining observer motion, eye movements, and independent object motions. The input representation was based on the response properties of neurons in the middle temporal area (MT), which provides the primary input to area MST. After applying an unsupervised optimization technique, the units became tuned to patterns signaling coherent motion, matching many of the known properties of MST cells. The results of this model are consistent with recent studies indicating that MST cells primarily encode information concerning the relative three-dimensional motion between objects and the observer.     

Neuronal responses to edges defined by luminance vs. temporal texture in macaque area V1

We examined the responsivity, orientation selectivity, and direction selectivity of a sample of neurons in cortical area V1 of the macaque using visual stimuli consisting of drifting oriented contours defined by each of two very different figural cues: luminance contrast and temporal texture. Comparisons of orientation and direction tuning elicited by the different cues were made in order to test the hypothesis that the neuronal representations of these parameters are form-cue invariant. The majority of the sampled cells responded to both stimulus types, although responses to temporal texture stimuli were generally weaker than those elicited by luminance-defined stimuli. Of those units exhibiting orientation selectivity when tested with the luminance-defined stimuli, more than half were also selective for the orientation of the temporal texture stimuli. There was close correspondence between the preferred orientations and tuning bandwidths revealed with the two stimulus types. Of those units exhibiting directional selectivity when tested with the luminance-defined stimuli, about two-thirds were also selective for the direction of the temporal texture stimuli. There was close correspondence between the preferred directions revealed with the two stimulus types, although bidirectional responses were somewhat more common when temporal texture stimuli were used. These results indicate that many V1 neurons encode orientation and direction of motion of retinal image features in a manner that is largely independent of whether the feature is defined by luminance or temporal texture contrast. These neurons may contribute to perceptual phenomena in which figural cue identity is disregarded.     

Rapidly induced auditory plasticity: the ventriloquism aftereffect

Cortical representational plasticity has been well documented after peripheral and central injuries or improvements in perceptual and motor abilities. This has led to inferences that the changes in cortical representations parallel and account for the improvement in performance during the period of skill acquisition. There have also been several examples of rapidly induced changes in cortical neuronal response properties, for example, by intracortical microstimulation or by classical conditioning paradigms. This report describes similar rapidly induced changes in a cortically mediated perception in human subjects, the ventriloquism aftereffect, which presumably reflects a corresponding change in the cortical representation of acoustic space. The ventriloquism aftereffect describes an enduring shift in the perception of the spatial location of acoustic stimuli after a period of exposure of spatially disparate and simultaneously presented acoustic and visual stimuli. Exposure of a mismatch of 8 degrees for 20-30 min is sufficient to shift the perception of acoustic space by approximately the same amount across subjects and acoustic frequencies. Given that the cerebral cortex is necessary for the perception of acoustic space, it is likely that the ventriloquism aftereffect reflects a change in the cortical representation of acoustic space. Comparisons between the responses of single cortical neurons in the behaving macaque monkey and the stimulus parameters that give rise to the ventriloquism aftereffect suggest that the changes in the cortical representation of acoustic space may begin as early as the primary auditory cortex.     

Binaural response patterns in subdivisions of the medial geniculate body

Auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) to binaural click stimulation were examined in the ventral (MGv) and caudomedial (MGcm) subdivisions of the medial geniculate body (MG) in guinea pigs. Binaural stimulation caused a decrease in amplitude for the response component recorded from the MGv, but an increase in amplitude for the AEP component recorded from the MGcm. Findings suggest that the evoked responses recorded from MGv and MGcm are functionally distinct. The inhibitory binaural response (BR) pattern seen in MGv was similar to that of the middle latency response (MLR) component recorded over the temporal cortex, while the additive BR pattern typical of the MGcm was similar to that of the surface midline MLR component. Furthermore, these data imply that the binaural response patterns seen in the primary and non-primary auditory cortex may be processed and encoded at the thalamic level. It is concluded that the distinct BR patterns noted for the two MG subdivisions reflect the predominant type of binaurally responsive neurons within the respective pathways.     

Involvement of cyclic GMP in the mode of action of a new antithrombotic agent PCA-4230; inhibition of the platelet cyclic GMP dependent phosphodiesterase

The division of the auditory cortex into various fields, functional aspects of these fields, and neuronal coding in the primary auditory cortical field (AI) are reviewed with stress on features that may be common to mammals. On the basis of 14 topographies and clustered distributions of neuronal response characteristics in the primary auditory cortical field, a hypothesis is developed of how a certain complex acoustic pattern may be encoded in an equivalent spatial activity pattern in AI, generated by time-coordinated firing of groups of neurons. The auditory cortex, demonstrated specifically for AI, appears to perform sound analysis by synthesis, i.e. by combining spatially distributed coincident or time-coordinated neuronal responses. The dynamics of sounds and the plasticity of cortical responses are considered as a topic for research.     

Long-latency neurons in auditory cortex involved in temporal integration: theoretical analysis of experimental data

A previous experimental study (He et al., 1997) found 132 duration-selective neurons with long latencies of greater than 30 ms in the dorsal zone of cat auditory cortex. The mechanism by which such long-latency neurons integrate information during their latent period is investigated by analysis of the temporal relationship between the stimulus and neuronal response. In the present study, we developed a one-layer perceptron to examine the above temporal relationship of the experimental results. The acoustic stimulus was represented as a contiguous series of sequential short time epochs. The perceptron was trained by using the spike data as the desired outputs and the acoustic stimuli (in digital format) as the inputs. The adaptive weights between the outputs and the inputs after training indicated the temporal relationship between neuronal responses and the stimuli. The contribution of each time epoch of the stimulus could be either positive or negative: the positive contribution corresponds to excitatory input and the negative contribution to inhibitory input. Long-duration-selective neurons were found to receive mainly excitatory input along the entire effective stimulus duration. However, duration-tuned neurons received excitatory input for only the time period from the stimulus onset to their best durations, and inhibitory thereafter. The temporal integration pattern of short-duration-selective neurons was similar to duration-tuned neurons. However, short-duration-selective neurons received excitatory input only at the beginning of the stimulus. Each of the duration-threshold neurons integrated auditory information only for a restricted time period of the stimulus, suggesting that they have a time window over the stimulus time domain. Non-duration-threshold neurons have time windows extending from the stimulus onset onward. The assembly of duration-threshold neurons and non-duration-threshold neurons may collectively represent the time axis of the stimulus.