Refractory properties of auditory brain-stem responses evoked by electrical stimulation of human cochlear nucleus: evidence of neural generators

In this study of electrically-evoked auditory brain-stem responses (EABRs) elicited by cochlear nucleus stimulation, 3 waves were identified after the initial wave that is directly initiated by the electric stimulus. Varying the rate of periodic stimulation or the interval between pairs of stimuli revealed that the shorter the latency of a wave, the faster it recovered from activation (i.e. shorter refractory period). The slow recovery of the third wave and an accompanying contribution to the second wave could be accounted for by postsynaptic generation in the two medial superior olivary nuclei (MSO); the faster recovery of another contribution to the second wave by generation in an axonal tract bending around the contralateral MSO; and the fastest recovery of the first wave by another axonal pathway having larger axons. Comparison with the relative latencies and spatial distribution of an acoustically-evoked auditory brain-stem response (AABR) indicated that the third wave corresponds to wave V, the second to wave IV (called IVb), and the first to a wave that precedes wave IV (called IVa). The anatomical interpretations for the two later waves of the EABR are consistent with most of the extant data on the neural generators of AABR waves IV and V. Thus, the present data and analysis strengthen the identification of the electrically evoked responses as EABRs and provide a firmer foundation for intra-operative EABR monitoring to assist auditory brain-stem implant placement.     

早产儿40Hz听觉相关电位的神经发育特性

临床实验研究发现:1.早产儿40Hz AERP Pa和Pb波潜伏期在三种强度(40,60和80dB-nHL)的短音(500Hz)刺激下明显长于足月新生儿(P<0.05,P<0.01,P<0.001),Pa-Pb波间期未见显著性变化(P>0.05);2.早产儿40Hz AERP Pa和Pb波潜伏期与500Hz短音强度高度相关(r≥0.98),Pb波潜伏期-刺激强度函数斜率K值明显有别于Pa波K值(P<0.01);3.早产儿40Hz AERP Pa和Pb波潜伏期与孕龄高度相关(r>0.7),Pb波潜伏期-孕龄函数斜率K值亦明显区别于Pa波K值(P<0.05)。     

Parasympathetic discharges evoked in the pelvic nerve by stimulation of various structures in the amygdala

Parasympathetic discharges evoked by application of single and paired stimuli to central, corticomedial, and basolateral nuclei of the amygdala were recorded from the pelvic nerve (PN) in anesthetized and immobilized cats. The discharges were found to include three main negative waves (I, II, and III waves, appearing with the latencies of 16.0–17.8, 74–87, and 171–184 msec, respectively). The first two waves were seen most regularly. Sometimes the I wave was preceded by a super-early negative component of a low amplitude appearing with a latency of 8.5–10.7 msec. The discharges evoked by stimulation of various nuclei of the amygdala did not significantly differ from each other in their thresholds, time courses, and amplitudes, which suggests a relatively diffuse distribution of parasympathetic efferent structures in the amygdala. It was shown, using paired stimuli, that a response to the second stimulus needed a long-lasting period (a few tens of milliseconds) to be restored. The origin of the components of the amygdalofugal parasympathetic discharges recorded from the PN, as well as the corresponding pathways they spread through, are discussed. In addition, the possible origin of the positive components of the PN discharges are considered.Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 26, No. 5, pp. 326–333, September–October, 1994.     

The location of olfactory receptor sites. Inferences from latency measurements.

Excitatory responses recorded from vertebrate olfactory sensory neurons are characterized by long latencies compared with those from other sensory receptors. Explanations which assume free access of the stimuli to receptor molecules presumably located on the olfactory cilia necessarily imply an intrinsic delay in the transduction mechanism. In contrast, the possibility of restricted or delayed access due to diffusion of the stimulus to molecular receptors located on the dendritic know or proximal portions of the cilia suggests transduction processes having time courses similar to those in other sensory systems. We show that the threshold stimulus concentrations and the latency of the excitatory response of the salamander can be predicted primarily on the basis of a diffusional delay and that the receptor molecules are well below the surface of the mucus. Examination of response latencies for other species reported in the literature support the generality of diffusional delay. The predicted location of molecular receptor sites is largely insensitive to assumptions based on the mode of clearance of the stimuli. Additional access restrictions are discussed but are shown to generate qualitatively different latency functions than does diffusion, suggesting that they exert only minor influences on latency and threshold characteristics.     

Visual processing levels revealed by response latencies to changes in different visual attributes.

Visual latencies, and their variation with stimulus attributes, can provide information about the level in the visual system at which different attributes of the image are analysed, and decisions about them made. A change in the colour, structure or movement of a visual stimulus brings about a highly reproducible transient constriction of the pupil that probably depends on visual cortical mechanisms. We measured this transient response to changes in several attributes of visual stimuli, and also measured manual reaction times to the same stimulus changes. Through analysis of latencies, we hoped to establish whether changes in different stimulus attributes were processed by mechanisms at the same or different levels in the visual pathway. Pupil responses to a change in spatial structure or colour are almost identical, but both are ca. 40 ms slower than those to a change in light flux, which are thought to depend largely on subcortical pathways. Manual reaction times to a change in spatial structure or colour, or to the onset of coherent movement, differ reliably, and all are longer than the reaction time to a change in light flux. On average, observers take 184 ms to detect a change in light flux, 6 ms more to detect the onset of a grating, 30 ms more to detect a change in colour, and 37 ms more to detect the onset of coherent motion. The pattern of latency variation for pupil responses and reaction times suggests that the mechanisms that trigger the responses lie at different levels in cortex. Given our present knowledge of visual cortical organization, the long reaction time to the change in motion is surprising. The range of reaction times across different stimuli is consistent with decisions about the onset of a grating being made in V1 and decisions about the change in colour or change in motion being made in V4.     

Comparative study of the rod and cone contributions to the generation of b-wave ERG and tectal evoked potential in the dark-adapted carp

Amplitudes and peak latencies as functions of wave length and monochromatic light intensity were investigated for b-wave ERG and tectal evoked potentials (EP) in the dark-adapted carp (Cyprinus carpio L). It was found, that independently of light intensity b-wave action spectra had one maximum in the medium wave band, corresponding to rod sensitivity area. For tectal EP, similar action spectra with maximum in the middle-wave were seen at low light intensity only. The b-wave amplitude growth was significant for the whole band of light intensities, and these changes were accompanied with a slight decrease in peak latency (to 50-100 ms). Tectal EP amplitude increased when low-intensity light was changed for medium intensity light and did not considerably increase to brighter light stimuli. However, tectal EP time latency significantly decreased (to 100-200 ms) during light intensity increasing. This differences show that retinal rod system, which in responsible for ERG b-wave in darkness, is not a key factor in the generation of tectal EP.     

Light Adaptation of Discrete Waves in the Limulus Photoreceptor

Light adaptation affects discrete waves in two ways. It reduces their average size and decreases the probability that a photon incident at the cornea causes a discrete wave. There is no effect of light adaptation on the latency of discrete waves, or on their time-course.     

Escape manoeuvres of schooling Clupea harengus

The escape behaviour of schooling herring startled by an artificial sound stimulus was observed by means of high speed video filming. Response latencies showed two distinct peaks, at 30 ms and c . 100 ms. Escape responses belonging to the two latency groups showed different turning rates during the first stage of the response, and showed different escape trajectories. We suggest that long latency escapes may be responses to startled neighbours or simply weak responses to the sound stimulus. In addition, the different contraction rates during the C-bend formation seen in the two latency groups may imply differences in the neuronal commands. The escape responses of herring were directed away from the stimulus more often than towards it (88% of the total). These away responses were more common in long latency responses, suggesting that the latter enable herring to be more accurate in discerning the direction of the threat. Startled fish contracting their body towards the stimulus (performing a towards response) appear to correct their escape course, since their escape trajectory distribution is non-uniformty distributed around 360° and directed away from the stimulus. We hypothesize that when herring are schooling, the ability of each fish to correct its trajectory following turns towards the stimulus is enhanced.     

Long rise times of sound pulses in grasshopper songs improve the directionality cues received by the CNS from the auditory receptors

Auditory receptors of the locust (Locusta migratoria) were investigated with respect to the directionality cues which are present in their spiking responses, with special emphasis on how directional cues are influenced by the rise time of sound signals. Intensity differences between the ears influence two possible cues in the receptor responses, spike count and response latency. Variation in rise time of sound pulses had little effect on the overall spike count; however, it had a substantial effect on the temporal distribution of the receptor's spiking response, especially on the latencies of first spikes. In particular, with ramplike stimuli the slope of the latency vs. intensity curves was steeper as compared to stimuli with steep onsets (Fig. 3). Stimuli with flat ramplike onsets lead to an increase of the latency differences of discharges between left and right tympanic receptors. This type of ramplike stimulus could thus facilitate directional hearing. This hypothesis was corroborated by a Monte Carlo simulation in which the probability of incorrect directional decisions was determined on the basis of the receptor latencies and spike counts. Slowly rising ramps significantly improved the decisions based on response latency, as compared to stimuli with sudden onsets (Fig. 4). These results are compared to behavioural results obtained with the grasshopper Ch. biguttulus. The stridulation signals of the females of this species consist of ramplike pulses, which could be an adaptation to facilitate directional hearing of phonotactically approaching males.Abbreviations HFR high frequency receptor - ILD interaural level difference - LFR low frequency receptor - SPL sound pressure level - WN white noise     

Discrete Waves and Phototransduction in Voltage-damped Ventral Photoreceptors

Discrete waves in the voltage-clamped photoreceptor of Limulus are remarkably similar in all essential properties to those found in an unclamped cell. The latency distribution of discrete waves is not affected by considerable changes in the holding potential in a voltage-clamped cell. Both large and small waves occur in voltage-clamped and unclamped cells and in approximately the same proportion. Large and small waves also share the same latency distributions and spectral sensitivity. We suggest that small waves may result from the activation of damaged membrane areas. Large waves have an average amplitude of approximately 5 nA in voltage-clamped photoreceptors. It probably requires several square microns of cell membrane to support this much photo-current. Thus the amplification inherent in the discrete wave process may involve spatial spread of activation from unimolecular dimensions to several square microns of cell membrane surface. Neither local current flow, nor pre-packaging of any transmitter substance appears to be involved in the amplification process. The possible mechanisms of the amplification are evaluated with relationship to the properties of discrete waves.     

Effect of verbal reinforcement on evoked cortical activity

Adult healthy subjects did not manifest any difference in latency and amplitude of the wave P300 elicited by a positive ("good") and negative ("error") reinforcing stimuli. After the negative reinforcement, the P300 wave amplitude decreases in response to the standard stimulus (light bars) and increases to a lesser degree in response to test stimuli (the same bars but presented with different pauses). In the processes of learning to assess time microintervals in comparison with the standard, the latency of wave P300 to the test stimuli shortens. It is suggested that formation and consolidation of feedback connection elaborated with the participation of a reinforcing verbal stimulus constitute the physiological basis for learning of comparative assessment of time microintervals.     

Altered endogenous negativities of the visual event-related potential in remitted schizophrenia

Visual event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded during a simple response task (SRT) and a discriminative response task (DRT) in remitted schizophrenic outpatients and age-matched controls to examine 2 endogenous negative potentials: NA and N2c. The NA potentials were derived by subtracting the ERPs for SRT from those for non-target stimuli in DRT. Other subtracting wave forms, N2c potentials, were calculated as the difference between ERPs for target and non-target stimuli in DRT. Schizophrenics showed retardation in NA and N2c peaks and degradation in N2c amplitude relative to controls. The NA peak latency increased as much as the latencies of N2c and reaction time for DRT in schizophrenia. The NA peak emerged prior to the N2c peak, while the NA peak latency correlated closely with the N2c latency. These results indicate that the retarded NA peak latency may serve as a physiological marker for neurobiological vulnerability of schizophrenia.     

Probability of Occurrence of Discrete Potential Waves in the Eye of Limulus

Discrete potential waves can be recorded from cells in the eye of Limulus both in darkness and in dim illumination. With constant illumination the frequency of these waves is linearly related to light intensity and the distribution of intervals between waves follows an exponential function. The latency of waves evoked by short flashes of light is usually long and variable and the number of waves evoked by a flash varies randomly, obeying approximately a Poisson distribution. The results of experiments with flashes of light have been compared with the predictions derived from the hypotheses that one, two, or three quanta of light are required for production of one wave. The agreement of the data with the theory can be considered acceptable for the "one quantum" hypothesis, is less satisfactory for the "two quanta" hypothesis, and is very poor for the "three quanta" hypothesis.     

The timing of sequences of saccades in visual search

According to the LATER model (linear approach to thresholds with ergodic rate), the latency of a single saccade in response to target appearance can be understood as a decision process, which is subject to (i) variations in the rate of (visual) information processing; and (ii) the threshold for the decision. We tested whether the LATER model can also be applied to the sequences of saccades in a multiple fixation search, during which latencies of second and subsequent saccades are typically shorter than that of the initial saccade. We found that the distributions of the reciprocal latencies for later saccades, unlike those of the first saccade, are highly asymmetrical, much like a gamma distribution. This suggests that the normal distribution of the rate r, which the LATER model assumes, is not appropriate to describe the rate distributions of subsequent saccades in a scanning sequence. By contrast, the gamma distribution is also appropriate to describe the distribution of reciprocal latencies for the first saccade. The change of the gamma distribution parameters as a function of the ordinal number of the saccade suggests a lowering of the threshold for second and later saccades, as well as a reduction in the number of target elements analysed.     

Elicited pontogeniculooccipital waves and phasic suppression of diaphragm activity in sleep and wakefulness

Fractionations are 20- to 100-ms pauses indiaphragm activity that occur spontaneously during rapid-eye-movement(REM) sleep, sometimes in association with pontogeniculooccipital (PGO)waves. Auditory stimuli can elicit fractionations or PGOwaves during REM sleep, non-REM (NREM) sleep, and waking; however,their interrelationship has not been investigated. To determine whetherthe two phenomena are produced by a common phasic-event generator inREM sleep, we examined PGO waves and fractionations that were elicitedby auditory stimuli (tones) presented to freely behaving cats across states. Tones elicited PGO waves and two types of fractionations: short-latency fractionation responses (SFRs; 10- to 60-ms latencies) and long-latency fractionation responses (LFRs; 60- to 120-ms latencies). Both a PGO wave and a SFR were elicited in60-70% of trials across states, but each could be elicited alone.The latencies and durations of elicited SFRs were similar acrossstates, but the latencies of elicited PGO waves in REM sleep (mean 62.5 ms) were significantly longer than in waking or NREM sleep. Elicited SFRs consistently occur with shorter latencies than do PGO waves, incontrast to spontaneous fractionations, which have a variable relationship to PGO waves and usually occur 10-40 ms after the onset of the PGO wave. The LFR then, elicited mostfrequently during REM sleep, resembles a spontaneous fractionation inits temporal relationship to the PGO wave and may reflect the bias toward motoneuronal inhibition characterizing REM sleep but not NREMsleep or waking. We conclude that, although PGO waves and SFRs sharesome features, like LFRs they probably are generated by differentneuronal populations. In three cats there was no correlation betweenPGO waves and fractionations, whereas in one cat they were associatedin REM sleep (LFRs and SFRs) and waking (SFRs only). Thus the majorityof evidence argues against the existence of a common phasic-eventgenerator in REM sleep.

     

Spatial interactions and stimulus-response relations of unit responses evoked by somato-sensory stimuli in the feline caudal medullary reticular formation

Responses of neurons in the bulbar reticular area to separate and simultaneous stimulation of the forelimbs were recorded extracellularly in chloralose-anaesthetized cats. On increasing the stimulus intensity the number of spikes per response increased while the initial latency and interspike intervals decreased in accordance with the functional property of the neuron. Responses evoked by simultaneous stimulation displayed more spikes and a shorter latency than those evoked by separate stimuli of corresponding intensities. The differences in the responses evoked simultaneously and the sums of responses evoked separately showed characteristic distributions as a function of the latter. Three types of distribution were distinguished. The results indicate that stimulus-response relations play a determining role in the mechanism of spatial integration.     

Brain-stem auditory evoked potentials in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

Brain-stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) were recorded in 10 common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) to investigate the effects of recording electrode configurations, stimulus rate, and stimulus frequency on BAEP wave forms and peak latencies. Tone burst stimulations were used to evaluate the effects of pure tone on BAEP wave forms. Five positive peaks superimposed on positive and negative slow potentials were identified in the BAEP recorded at the linkage between the vertex and the dorsal base of the ear ipsilateral to a monaural stimulus. When the reference electrode was placed at the ipsilateral mastoid or the neck, the amplitudes of positive and negative slow potentials and the incidence of wave I increased. There were no significant changes in peak latencies of BAEP waves with changes in stimulus rate from 5 to 20/s. It was possible to record the BAEPs in response to tone burst stimulations at frequencies extending from 0.5 to 99 kHz. Wave I appeared apparently at high stimulus frequencies; while waves III to V, at low frequencies. Wave II was recorded at frequencies ranging from 0.5 to 99 kHz and comprised a superposition of 2 or 3 potentials.     

The electroretinogram of adult rats following a period of postnatal undernutrition and prolonged nutritional rehabilitation

The electroretinogram (ERG) was used as a tool to estimate the recovery of physiological properties of the adult rat retina resulting from a period of postnatal undernutrition followed by prolonged nutritional rehabilitation. We obtained a characteristic ERG including negative (A) and positive (B) waves. Significant reductions in the response amplitude of the A and B wave were observed. The ratio of the first and second responses to paired photic stimuli (neuronal recovery) was essentially the same in the control and experimental animals. These results indicate that the processes controlling the ERG peak amplitude were permanently affected by a period of postnatal undernourishment, while the functional elements responsible for 1) ERG peak latency and 2) the neuronal recovery were either unaffected by postnatal nutritional deprivation or recovered during subsequent rehabilitation.     

Linear Relations between Stimulus Amplitudes and Amplitudes of Retinal Action Potentials from the Eye of the Wolf Spider

Incremental photic stimuli have been used to elicit small amplitude retinal action potentials from light-adapted ocelli of the wolf spider, Lycosa baltimoriana (Keyserling) in order to see whether or not the amplitudes of these potentials are linearly related to the stimulus amplitudes. Sine wave variations of light intensity around a mean elicit sine wave variations in potential which contain inappreciable harmonics of the stimulus frequency and whose amplitudes are linearly related to the stimulus amplitudes. Likewise, the responses to the first two periodic Fourier components of incremental rectangular wave stimuli of variable duty cycle are directly proportional to the amplitudes of these components and have phases dependent only on the frequencies and phases of these components. Thirdly, a linear transfer function can be found which describes the amplitudes and phases of responses recorded at different frequencies of sine wave stimulation and this transfer function is sufficient to predict the responses to incremental step stimuli. Finally, it is shown that flash response amplitudes are linearly related to incremental flash intensities at all levels of adaptation. The relations of these linear responses to non-linear responses and to physiological mechanisms of the eye are discussed.     

Influence of fear conditioning on elicited ponto-geniculo-occipital waves and rapid eye movement sleep

The amygdala plays a central role in fear conditioning, a model of anticipatory anxiety. It has massive projections to brainstem regions involved in rapid eye movement sleep (REM) and ponto-geniculo-occipital (PGO) wave generation. PGO waves occur spontaneously in REM or in response to stimuli. Electrical stimulation of the central nucleus of the amygdala enhances spontaneous PGO wave activity during REM and the amplitude of both the acoustic startle response and the elicited PGO wave (PGOE), a neural marker of alerting. This study examined the effects of fear conditioning on REM and on PGOE. On conditioning days, the number of REM episodes, the average REM duration and the REM percentage were decreased while REM latency was increased. The presentation of auditory stimuli in the presence of a light conditioned stimulus produced PGOE of greater amplitudes. The results suggest that fear, most likely involving the amygdala, can influence REM and brainstem alerting mechanisms.