γ-氨基丁酸能抑制可锐化大棕蝠听皮层神经元频率调谐

本实验使用了 9只成年健康的大棕蝠 (Eptesicusfuscus)。采用双声刺激和多管电极电泳导入荷包牡丹碱 (bicuculline,Bic)的方法 ,研究了γ 氨基丁酸 (γ aminobutyricacid ,GABA)能抑制在锐化听皮层 (primaryauditorycortex ,AC ,即初级听皮层 )神经元频率调谐中的作用。结果发现 :正常AC神经元的频率调谐曲线表现出单峰开放式、多峰开放式和单峰封闭式 3种类型 ;用双声刺激方法研究证实 ,至AC神经元的抑制性输入能被抑制性声刺激所激活 ,且这种神经抑制有自身的最佳频率 ,根据其对兴奋反应的影响程度和系统地改变抑制性声刺激的强度 ,可在兴奋性频率调谐曲线或兴奋区的高频边或 /和低频边测出抑制性频率调谐曲线或抑制区 ;当这种抑制性输入被抑制性声刺激激活后 ,能降低阈上 10dB声强引起的兴奋反应的发放率 ,抑制效率随抑制声刺激强度的增强而加强 ;电泳GABAa受体拮抗剂荷包牡丹碱Bic后 ,可不同程度地去GABA能抑制 ,扩宽频率调谐曲线 ,使多峰调谐曲线变成单峰 ,封闭型变成开放型。表明GABA能抑制参与构成至AC神经元的抑制性输入 ,在正常情况下这种抑制有助于提高中枢听神经元的信号 /噪声比和频率分析能力 ,并锐化频率调谐。因此本结果提示 ,声音的各参量中所包含的信息从外周传入中枢后 ,随着中枢的升     

γ—氨基丁酸能抑制可镜化大棕蝠听皮层神经元频率调谐

本实验使用了9只成年健康的大棕蝠（Eptesicus fuscus）。采用双声刺激和多管电极电泳导入荷包牡丹碱（bicuculline,Bic）的方法,研究了γ－氨基丁酸（γ－aminobutyric,GABA）能抑制在锐化听皮层（primary auditory cortex,AC,即初级听皮层）神经元频率调谐中的作用。结果发现：正常AC神经元的频率调谐曲线表现出单峰开放式、多峰开放式和单峰封闭式2种类型;用双声刺激方法研究证实,至AC神经元的抑制性输入能被抑制性声刺激所激活,且这种神经抑制有自身的最佳频率,根据其对兴奋反应的影响程度和系统地改变抑制性声刺激的强度,可在兴奋性频率调谐曲线或兴奋区的高频边或／和低频边测出抑制性频率调谐曲线或抑制区;当这种抑制性输入被抑制性声刺激激活后,能降低阈上10fB声强引起的兴奋反应的发放率,抑制效率随抑制声刺激强度的增强而加强;电泳GABAa受体拮抗剂荷包牡丹碱Bic后,可不同程度地去GABA能抑制参与构成至AC神经元的抑制性输入,在正常情况下这种抑制有助于提高中枢听神经元的信号／噪声比和频率分析能力,并锐化频率调谐,因此本结果在正常情况下这种抑制有助于提高中枢听神经元的信号／噪声比和频率分析能力,并锐化频率调谐,因此本结果提示,声音的各参量中所包含的信息从外周传入中枢后,随着中枢的升级,逐级抽提整合成若干特征,直至在AC形成某种“声像（sound image)”,对大多数AC神经元而言,GABA能抑制在该过程中起关键作用。     

锐化蝙蝠听皮层神经元频率调谐的柱特征

用双声刺激和多管电极方法在 6只大棕蝠 (bigbrownbat,Eptesicusfuscus)的 98个神经元上研究了锐化 (sharpening)蝙蝠听皮层 (primaryauditorycortex ,AC)神经元频率调谐的柱特征。结果发现 ,电极直插在 1个电极通道内连续记录到多个神经元时 ,它们锐化频率调谐的抑制性调谐曲线或抑制区基本相似。电极与AC表面呈 45°斜向推入使其跨越多个功能柱时 ,可观察到锐化频率调谐的抑制区构成也随电极进入不同的功能柱而发生相应的改变。两种不同的电极插入方式均证明锐化AC神经元频率调谐的神经抑制呈柱状组构。这些神经元组合起来排列在同一听觉功能柱内 ,构成AC频率分析的基本功能组构单位“微频率处理器”。实验中还观察到多峰频率调谐曲线神经元 ,它们在声通讯和声定位中不同波谱区域的时间匹配中起作用。此外 ,也有理由认为多峰调谐神经元亦被用于作为复杂波谱信息的“高级调谐预处理器” ,从而极大地提高了神经元对频率分析的能力。为研究锐化频率调谐的神经抑制机制 ,用多管电极电泳γ -氨基丁酸 (γ aminobutyricacid ,GA BA)能a受体拮抗剂荷包牡丹碱 (bicuculline ,Bic)至所记录的神经元 ,发现能大部分或几乎全部取消抑制区 ,从而表明在正常情况下GABA能抑制参与构成锐化AC神经元频率调谐的抑制区 ,     

综述与专论: 蝙蝠，听觉和回声定位研究的模型动物

科学家以蝙蝠为模式动物,从听觉、回声定位和生态适应与演化等方面开展了研究,取得了令人瞩目的成果。为适应回声定位,蝙蝠听觉系统的结构和功能产生了明显的特化。从外周到中枢形成了对声频率极为有序的表征,甚至在恒频-调频（constant frequency-frequency modulation,CF-FM）蝙蝠耳蜗形成了所谓的听觉凹,以及听皮质功能组构也模块化,成为了具有代表性的特化象征。神经元反应的潜伏期对蝙蝠不仅是基本特性,也是回声定位行为调控的一部分;研究发现,有较长潜伏期的神经元具有较尖锐的回声-延迟调谐特性,而较短潜伏期的神经元则有较宽的回声-延迟调谐特性。蝙蝠听神经元对频率调谐的精准度亦远胜于人类和其他非回声定位动物;而且,源于耳蜗听觉凹的传入在各级听中枢均显示出对回声定位信号第二谐波CF成分的过度表征,以满足对靶物回声多普勒频移探测的需要。时程是回声定位蝙蝠发声信号主动改变的参数之一,而时程调谐神经元则提供了一种编码声音时相特征的重要神经机制,匹配了对回声定位信号时相信息加工的需要。在多种回声定位蝙蝠的听中枢还发现,有回声-延迟调谐神经元,它们不仅能对靶物距离进行调谐,而且...     

弱噪声对小鼠下丘神经元频率调谐的影响

为探讨弱噪声对小鼠 (MusmusculusKm)中脑下丘 (inferiorcolliculus ,IC)神经元声信号提取的影响 ,采用单位胞外记录方法 ,研究了加入弱白噪声 (强度相当于纯音阈强度下 5dB)前后神经元频率调谐曲线的变化。实验共记录到 10 4个下丘神经元 ,测量了 32个神经元的频率调谐曲线。结果显示 :①弱噪声条件下神经元的频率调谐曲线表现出 3种类型 ,即锐化 (34 4 % ,11/ 32 )、拓宽 (18 8% ,6 / 32 )和不受影响 (4 6 9% ,15 / 32 ) ,其中锐化呈现有意义的变化 ;②频率调谐受弱噪声锐化的神经元 ,其Q10 、Q3 0 平均分别增大 (34 4 2±17 0 4 ) % (P =0 0 2 6 ,n =11)和 (4 6 34± 2 2 88) % (P =0 0 0 9,n =7) ,且Q3 0 变化率大于Q10 ;③弱噪声对调谐曲线的高、低频边锐化度不一 ,神经元低频边的反转斜率基本不变 [由 0 16± 0 0 8变为 0 16± 0 0 7kHz/dB (P =0 94 7,n =7) ],而高频边明显下降 [由 0 5 2± 0 2 5下降为 0 2 6± 0 13kHz/dB ,平均减小 (4 3 81±2 4 0 6 ) % ,(P =0 0 4 6 ,n =7) ]。上述结果表明 ,弱噪声可锐化小鼠IC神经元频率调谐 ,并强化神经元的声信号高频分析能力     

中枢听觉系统对声音时程的调谐和识别

声音的时程信息对动物的声通讯和人的言语识别非常重要。声信号中的大部分信息都编码在随时间变化的振幅和频谱中。听中枢神经元对声音时程的调谐先后在蛙、蝙蝠、小鼠等动物的下丘及以上结构内发现,其在声信号识别和声信息承载方面发挥重要作用;以人为对象的心理物理学研究也观察到发声的时程对语音识别和语义分析非常重要。时程调谐的神经机制目前尚不清楚,可能是兴奋性输入和抑制性输入按某种模式进行的整合。巧合检测模型和反巧合模型等可解释某些类型的时程选择性神经元上的调谐机制,而神经元自身的结构特性也可能与时程调谐的形成有关。时程调谐还受到声音的其他参量(如频谱构成、强度、重复率等)影响,时程选择性神经元可根据这些参量的动态变化凸显特殊生境下的有意义声信号。本文在相关研究工作基础之上,结合本实验室的研究结果,对中枢听神经元的时程编码特性和机制,以及某些声信号参数对神经元时程编码的影响和时程调谐的生物学意义作介绍和评述。     

外侧丘系腹核在声信号加工和听觉上行传导中的作用

外侧丘系腹核(ventral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus,VNLL)是中枢听觉通路中连接耳蜗核等低位脑干和中脑下丘(inferior colliculus,IC)的重要核团,其神经元能够对声信号的不同参数进行检测与加工,进而形成多样的声反应特性。VNLL神经元对频率反应的调谐曲线有多种类型,但其锐化程度一般较低,对频率的分析亦不够精确;有关强度调谐的放电率函数分为两种类型:单调型与非单调型,它们对强度的加工和编码往往受到发放模式的影响;不同发放模式的VNLL神经元对时程的编码能力不同,其中起始型具有精确的时间特性,适合编码声刺激的起始时间信息,对蝙蝠的回声定位非常重要。VNLL接受来自低位核团的输入,并发出上行的抑制性投射至IC,在IC神经元的声信息检测过程中发挥重要作用。近来研究认为VNLL快速的抑制性投射延迟IC神经元的首次发放潜伏期,VNLL延迟的抑制性投射介导IC神经元的发放模式,但VNLL抑制性输入如何在IC进行整合,并增强IC神经元检测声信号能力的机制并不清楚,且缺乏VNLL对IC进行实时调控作用的直接证据。这些问题的研究有助于进一步认识上行输入在声信号加工过程中的作用,同时也是本实验室今后的研究重点。本文结合本实验室相关研究,围绕VNLL对听觉信号的加工和上行传导进行综述。     

Bicuculline对小鼠中脑下丘听神经元反应特性的影响

采用微电泳技术考察了CABASA受体拮抗剂荷包牡丹碱(bicuculline),对小鼠中脑下丘听神经元强度－放电率曲线,频率调谐曲线和听空间反应域的影响,结果表明,微电泳bicuculline使听神经元的放电率显著提高,多数神经元的强度－放电率曲线变为单调型,听视经元频率调谐曲线加宽,并且对曲线上部的作用更加明显,听神经元的听空间反应域增大,大向敏感性降低,实验结果提示了GABA能抑制在下丘听信息处理中的重要作用。     

经验改变大鼠听皮层神经元的特征频率

应用常规电生理学技术,以神经元的特征频率和频率调谐曲线为指标,研究大鼠听皮层神经元特征频率的可塑性. 结果表明,在给予的条件刺激频率和神经元特征频率相差1.0 kHz范围内,条件刺激可诱导50%以上神经元特征频率发生完全偏移,并可分为向频率调谐曲线的低频端偏移、高频端偏移,或两侧均可偏移三种类型. 其中,神经元的特征频率高、Q₁₀-dB值大和频率调谐曲线对称指数大于零的神经元,其特征频率偏向频率调谐曲线高频端的概率更高. 结果提示,经验可改变大鼠听皮层神经元的特征频率,为深入研究中枢神经元功能活动可塑性的机制提供了重要实验资料.     

大蹄蝠回声定位信号特征与下丘神经元频率调谐

采用超声监测仪录制超声信号和细胞外电生理记录下丘神经元的频率调谐曲线(frequency tuningcurqes,FTCs)的方法,探讨了大蹄蝠(Hipposideros armiger)回声定位信号与下丘(inferior colliculus,IC)神经元频率调谐之间的相关性.结果发现,大蹄蝠回声定位叫声为恒频-调频(consrant frequency-frequenevmodulated,CF-FM)信号,一般含有2-3个谐波,第二谐波为其主频,cF成分频率(Mean±SD,n=18)依次为:(33.3 4±0.2)、(66.5±0.3)、(99.4 4±0.5)kHz;电生理实验共获得72个神经元的频率调谐曲线,Q10-dB值的范围是0.5-95.4(9.2±14.6,rg=72),最佳频率(best frequency,BF)在回声定位主频附近的神经元具有尖锐的频率调谐特性.结果表明,大蹄蝠回声定位信号与下丘神经元频率调谐存在相关性,表现为最佳频率在回声定位信号主频附近的神经元频率调谐曲线的Q10-dB值较大,具有很强的频率分析能力.     

Functional correlates of characteristic frequency in single cochlear nerve fibers of the Mongolian gerbil

Summary Single-unit recordings obtained from the auditory nerve of the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus, revealed functional differences in the response properties of neurons tuned to low and high frequencies. The distribution of neural thresholds displayed a distinct rise for auditory nerve fibers with characteristic frequencies] (CFs) between 3–5 kHz. This frequency band also marked abrupt changes in both the distribution of spontaneous discharge rates and the shape of the neural tuning curve. For neurons of all CFs, spontaneous firing rates were inversely related to neural threshold but unrelated to sharpness of neural tuning. The range of CF thresholds encountered, even when data from many animals were combined, rarely exceeded 20 dB, suggesting that cochlear nerve responses obtained from this species display little inter-animal variability. These results are compared with similar data from other species and discussed in terms of recent studies on sound communication and cochlear anatomy in gerbils.Abbreviations CF characteristic frequency - SR spontaneous discharge rate     

Acoustic response properties of single neurons in the central posterior nucleus of the thalamus of the goldfish,Carassius auratus

Acoustic responses were recorded extracellularly from single neurons in the thalamic central posterior nucleus (CP). Spontaneous activity, best sensitivity, and sharpness of tuning (Q_10db) of CP neurons ranged from 0 to 36 spikes/s, -40 to 5 dB re: 1 dyne/cm², and 0.18 to 1.80, respectively. The distribution of characteristic frequency (CF) was nonuniform with a mode at 195 Hz. Temporal response patterns of CP neurons (N = 60) were categorized into three groups: phasic (25%), tonic chopper-like (22%), and tonic nonchopper-like (53%) on the basis of peri-stimulus time and inter-spike interval histograms. Most CP neurons (90%) did not phase-lock to tones, and none phase-locked strongly. The properties of CP neurons are similar to those of the midbrain torus semicircularis neurons in spontaneous rates, best sensitivities, nonuniform CF distributions, and in exhibiting level-independent best frequencies. Both CP and toral neurons show a diversity of response patterns resembling those found in the mammalian central auditory system. However, CP neurons have broader tuning and less phase-locking than toral neurons, suggesting different roles in auditory processing. While peripheral frequency analysis is enhanced at the midbrain level, the integration of frequency-selective channels in the thalamus may function in the processing of wideband spectra characteristic of natural sound sources.Abbreviations BF best frequency - BS best sensitivity - CF characteristic frequency - CP central posterior nucleus - ISIH inter-spike interval histogram - PSTH peri-stimulus-time histogram - RA response area     

弱背景噪声对大鼠听皮层神经元频率调谐的影响

在自然环境中,人和动物常在一定的背景噪声下感知信号声刺激,然而,关于低强度的弱背景噪声如何影响听皮层神经元对声刺激频率的编码尚不清楚.本研究以大鼠听皮层神经元的频率反应域为研究对象,测定了阈下背景噪声对79个神经元频率反应域的影响.结果表明,弱背景噪声对大鼠初级听皮层神经元的听反应既有抑制性影响、又有易化性影响.一般来说,抑制性影响使神经元的频率调谐范围和最佳频率反应域缩小,易化性影响使神经元的频率调谐范围和最佳频率反应域增大.对于少数神经元,弱背景噪声并未显著改变其频率调谐范围,但却改变了其最佳频率反应域范围.弱背景噪声对63.64%神经元的特征频率和55.84%神经元的最低阈值无显著影响.神经元频率调谐曲线的尖部比中部更容易受到弱背景噪声的影响.该研究结果有助于我们进一步理解复杂声环境下大脑听皮层对听觉信息的编码机制.     

Null mutations in EphB receptors decrease sharpness of frequency tuning in primary auditory cortex

Primary auditory cortex (A1) exhibits a tonotopic representation of characteristic frequency (CF). The receptive field properties of A1 neurons emerge from a combination of thalamic inputs and intracortical connections. However, the mechanisms that guide growth of these inputs during development and shape receptive field properties remain largely unknown. We previously showed that Eph family proteins help establish tonotopy in the auditory brainstem. Moreover, other studies have shown that these proteins shape topography in visual and somatosensory cortices. Here, we examined the contribution of Eph proteins to cortical organization of CF, response thresholds and sharpness of frequency tuning. We examined mice with null mutations in EphB2 and EphB3, as these mice show significant changes in auditory brainstem connectivity. We mapped A1 using local field potential recordings in adult EphB2(-/-);EphB3(-/-) and EphB3(-/-) mice, and in a central A1 location inserted a 16-channel probe to measure tone-evoked current-source density (CSD) profiles. Based on the shortest-latency current sink in the middle layers, which reflects putative thalamocortical input, we determined frequency receptive fields and sharpness of tuning (Q(20)) for each recording site. While both mutant mouse lines demonstrated increasing CF values from posterior to anterior A1 similar to wild type mice, we found that the double mutant mice had significantly lower Q(20) values than either EphB3(-/-) mice or wild type mice, indicating broader tuning. In addition, we found that the double mutants had significantly higher CF thresholds and longer onset latency at threshold than mice with wild type EphB2. These results demonstrate that EphB receptors influence auditory cortical responses, and suggest that EphB signaling has multiple functions in auditory system development.     

大棕蝠下丘听神经元频率调谐的方向敏感性

实验在8只大棕蝠(Eptesicusfuscus)上进行.选取了5个声源方位记录部位对侧80°(C-80°)、40°(C-40°)、0°和同侧40°(I-40°)、80°(I-80°).下丘听神经元的频率调谐曲线的形状有三种V型、封闭型和U型.以C-40°的频率调谐曲线为对照,声源方位改变时,多数神经元频率调谐曲线的形状和最佳频率不变.多数神经元在声源方位由记录部位对侧转向同侧时,频率调谐曲线的锐度(以QndB值为指标)由小变大;神经元在I-80°、I-40°的QndB值显著高于C-80°、C-40°、0°的QndB值.在所观察的47个神经元中,5个声源方位的最低阈值的平均值有显著差异,由高到低的分布为MTI-80°＞MTI-40°＞MT0°＞MTc-80°＞MTc-40°.我们推测,声源方位对神经元频率调谐特性影响的机制,可能是抑制性和兴奋性输入的比例不同而相互整合的结果.     

Plasticity and corticofugal modulation for hearing in adult animals

The descending (corticofugal) auditory system adjusts and improves auditory signal processing in the subcortical auditory nuclei. The auditory cortex and corticofugal system evoke small, short-term changes of the subcortical auditory nuclei in response to a sound repetitively delivered to an animal. These changes are specific to the parameters characterizing the sound. When the sound becomes significant to the animal through conditioning (associative learning), the changes are augmented and the cortical changes become long-term. There are two types of reorganizations: expanded reorganization resulting from centripetal shifts in tuning curves of neurons toward the values of the parameters characterizing a sound and compressed reorganization resulting from centrifugal shifts in tuning curves of neurons away from these values. The two types of reorganizations are based on a single mechanism consisting of two components: facilitation and inhibition.     

Duration tuning in the auditory midbrain of echolocating and non-echolocating vertebrates

Neurons tuned for stimulus duration were first discovered in the auditory midbrain of frogs. Duration-tuned neurons (DTNs) have since been reported from the central auditory system of both echolocating and non-echolocating mammals, and from the central visual system of cats. We hypothesize that the functional significance of auditory duration tuning likely varies between species with different evolutionary histories, sensory ecologies, and bioacoustic constraints. For example, in non-echolocating animals such as frogs and mice the temporal filtering properties of auditory DTNs may function to discriminate species-specific communication sounds. In echolocating bats duration tuning may also be used to create cells with highly selective responses for specific rates of frequency modulation and/or pulse-echo delays. The ability to echolocate appears to have selected for high temporal acuity in the duration tuning curves of inferior colliculus neurons in bats. Our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying sound duration selectivity has improved substantially since DTNs were first discovered almost 50 years ago, but additional research is required for a comprehensive understanding of the functional role and the behavioral significance that duration tuning plays in sensory systems.     

Neural representation of spectral and temporal information in speech

Speech is the most interesting and one of the most complex sounds dealt with by the auditory system. The neural representation of speech needs to capture those features of the signal on which the brain depends in language communication. Here we describe the representation of speech in the auditory nerve and in a few sites in the central nervous system from the perspective of the neural coding of important aspects of the signal. The representation is tonotopic, meaning that the speech signal is decomposed by frequency and different frequency components are represented in different populations of neurons. Essential to the representation are the properties of frequency tuning and nonlinear suppression. Tuning creates the decomposition of the signal by frequency, and nonlinear suppression is essential for maintaining the representation across sound levels. The representation changes in central auditory neurons by becoming more robust against changes in stimulus intensity and more transient. However, it is probable that the form of the representation at the auditory cortex is fundamentally different from that at lower levels, in that stimulus features other than the distribution of energy across frequency are analysed.     

High-order auditory filters.

The past year has seen some important advances in our understanding of central auditory function. Several central auditory neurons that differ from those in the periphery in their selectivity for various spectral and temporal parameters of complex sound have been described. Although central specializations for the processing of complex sound have been known for some time, recent findings suggest that these high-order filter properties are more widespread than previously thought. Significant progress has been made in our understanding of the neural mechanisms by which some high-order filter properties, such as delay-tuning, amplitude-tuning, and complex frequency tuning are performed by the central auditory system. New evidence has clarified the role of high-order auditory filters in auditory learning and perception, and the regions in which they are found.