Neurophysiology

, Volume 25, Issue 5, pp 279–283 | Cite as

Responses of neurons in the rat auditory and associative cortices to tonal stimuli

  • V. V. Turkin
  • V. D. Taranenko
Article
Received:
  • 22 Downloads

Abstract

Activity of single neurons and mass evoked potentials (EP) were recorded from the auditory (area 41) and associative (area 39) cortices in acute experiments on rats anesthetized with urethane, nembutal, or chloralose; pure tones were used as acoustic stimuli. The EP appearing in response to a wide range of sound tones on the surface of the auditory and associative cortices were dissimilar in their latency and shape. For neurons exhibiting stable responses, the frequency-threshold curves (FTC) were plotted.

Weak and variable responses of neurons were observed under slight urethane anesthesia. Nembutal anesthesia increased the responsiveness of neurons and the probability of appearing of late components in the responses. Chloralose anesthesia was characterized by extension of frequency range perceived by a neuron, while its sharpness of tuning remained unchanged. Under all types of anesthesia employed, the responses recorded from the associative cortex neurons had longer latencies than those recorded from the auditory cortex neurons. Neurons exhibiting the frequency selectivity were much less numerous in the associative cortex than in the auditory cortex. The former neurons were often characterized by intermittent FTC and they responded to a more extended frequency range. No clear tonotopic organization was found in the associative cortex.

Keywords

Auditory Cortex Pure Tone Acoustic Stimulus Longe Latency Evoke Potential 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. 1.
    S. L. Sally and J. B. Kelly, “Organization of auditory cortex in the albino rats. Sound frequency,”J. Neurophysiol.,59, No.5, 1627–1638 (1938).Google Scholar
  2. 2.
    J. Horikawa and S. Ito, “Tonotopic representation in the rat auditory cortex,”Proc. Jpn. Acad. Ser. B,64, 260–263 (1988).Google Scholar
  3. 3.
    M. Roger and P. Arnault, “Anatomical study of the connections of the primary auditory area in the rat,”J. Comp. Neurol.,287, No. 2, 339–356 (1989).Google Scholar
  4. 4.
    P. Arnault and M. Roger, “Ventral temporal cortex in the rat: connections of secondary auditory areas Te2 and Te3,”J. Comp. Neurol.,302, No. 1, 110–123 (1990).Google Scholar
  5. 5.
    W. J. S. Krieg, “Cortical areas of albino rat,”J. Comp. Neurol.,84, No. 1, 221–275 (1946).Google Scholar
  6. 6.
    A. S. Batuev and G. A. Kulikov,Introduction to Physiology of Sensory Systems [in Russian], Visshaya Shkola, Moscow (1983).Google Scholar
  7. 7.
    F. N. Serkov and V. V. Turkin, “Reactions of neurons in the cat parietal associative cortex to frequency of acoustic stimulation,”Sensornye Sistemy,3, No. 1, 69–75 (1989).Google Scholar
  8. 8.
    V. V. Turkin, “Response of parietal associative cortex neurons to acoustic stimulation before and after auditory cortex blockade in the cat,”Neirofiziologiya, 18, No.3, 354–360 (1986).Google Scholar
  9. 9.
    J. Horikawa and K. Murata, “Spatial distribution of response latencies in the rat inferior colliculus,”Proc. Jpn. Acad. Ser. B.,64, 181–184 (1988).Google Scholar
  10. 10.
    O. R. Irvine and H. G. Huebner, “Acoustic response characteristics of neurons in the nonspecific areas of cat cerebral cortex,”J. Neurophysiol.,42, No. 1, 107–122 (1979).Google Scholar
  11. 11.
    S. A. Azizi, P. A. Burne, and D. J. Woodward, “The auditory corticopontocerebellar projection in the rat inputs to the paraflocculus and midvermis,”Exp. Brain Res.,59, No. 1, 36–49 (1985).Google Scholar
  12. 12.
    A. G. Polyakova,Functional Organization of the Brain Associative Cortex [in Russian], Nauka, Moscow (1977).Google Scholar
  13. 13.
    R. M. Akers and J. A. Killackey, “Organization of corticocortical connections in the parietal cortex of the rat,”J. Comp. Neurol.,181, No. 3, 513–538 (1978).Google Scholar
  14. 14.
    D. W. Vaughan, “Thalamic and callosal connections of the rat auditory cortex,”Brain Res.,260, No. 1, 181–189 (1983).Google Scholar
  15. 15.
    I. O. Volkov and A. V. Galazyuk, “Electrical reactions of the second auditory area in the cat brain cortex to tones of characteristic frequency,”Fiziol. Zh.,32, No.6, 733–741 (1986).Google Scholar
  16. 16.
    A. V. Galazyuk, “Tonopical organization of the ventrorostral zone of the auditory cortex regionAII in cats,” Neirofiziologiya,22, No. 2, 178–184 (1990).Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Plenum Publishing Corporation 1994

Authors and Affiliations

  • V. V. Turkin
    • 1
  • V. D. Taranenko
    • 1
  1. 1.Mechnikov State UniversityOdessaUkraine

Personalised recommendations