Skip to main content
Log in

Infrasound sensitive neurones in the pigeon cochlear ganglion

  • Published:
Journal of Comparative Physiology A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The cochlear ganglion of the pigeon contains neurones sensitive to sound frequencies below 20 Hz (infrasound). They are characterized by a high spontaneous discharge rate (mean 115 imp/s). In contrast to ordinary auditory units, the mean discharge rate of these neurones is not increased by infrasound or sound stimuli, but modulated by these stimuli at levels comparable to the behavioural thresholds of pigeon reported by Kreithen and Quine (1979).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bowman HS, Bedart AJ (1971) Observations of infrasonic and subsonic disturbances related to severe weather. Geophys J R Astron Soc 26:215–242

    Google Scholar 

  • Buunen TJF, Rhode WS (1978) Responses of fibers in the cat's auditory nerve to the cubic difference tone. J Acoust Soc Am 64:772–781

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuchs PA, Nagai T, Evans MG (1988) Electrical tuning in hair cells isolated from the chick cochlea. J Neurosci 8:2460–2467

    Google Scholar 

  • Gleich O (1989) Auditory primary afferents in the starling: Correlation of function and morphology. Hearing Res 37:255–267

    Google Scholar 

  • Gleich O, Manley GA (1988) Quantitative morphological analysis of the sensory epithelium of the starling and pigeon basilar papilla. Hearing Res 34:69–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg JM, Brown PB (1969) Response of binaural neurones of dog superior olivary complex to dichotic tonal stimuli: Some physiological mechanisms of sound localization. J Neurophysiol 32:613–636

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greene GE, Howard J (1975) Natural infrasound: A one year global study. Wave Propagation Lab, Natl Oceanic Atmos Admin, Boulder, Colorado

    Google Scholar 

  • Gummer AW, Smolders JWT, Klinke R (1987) Basilar membrane motion in the pigeon measured with the Mössbauer technique. Hearing Res 29:63–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartmann R, Klinke R (1980) Discharge properties of afferent fibres of the goldfish semicircular canal with high frequency stimulation. Pflügers Arch 388:111–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill KG, Mo J, Stange G (1989) Excitation and suppression of primary auditory fibres in the pigeon. Hearing Res 39:37–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Jørgensen JM (1970) On the structure of the maculae lagenae in birds with some notes on the avian maculae utriculi and sacculi. Vidensk Meddr Dansk Naturh Foren 133:121–147

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim DO, Molnar CE (1979) A population study of cochlear nerve fibers: Comparison of spatial distributions of average-rate and phase-locking measures of responses to single tones. J Neurophysiol 42:16–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Klinke R, Pause M (1980) Discharge properties of primary auditory fibres in Caiman crocodilus: Comparison and contrasts to the mammalian auditory nerve. Exp Brain Res 38:137–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Klinke R, Schermuly L (1986) Inner ear mechanics of the reptilian and avian basilar papillae in comparison to neural data. Hearing Res 22:183–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreithen ML, Keeton WT (1974) Detection of changes in atmospheric pressure by the homing pigeon, Columba lima. J Comp Physiol 89:73–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreithen ML, Quine DB (1979) Infrasound detection by the homing pigeon: A behavioral audiogram. J Comp Physiol 129:1–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Manley GA (1979) Preferred intervals in the spontaneous activity of primary auditory neurones. Naturwissenschaften 66:582–584

    Google Scholar 

  • Manley GA, Gleich O, Kaiser A, Brix J (1989) Functional differentiation of sensory cells in the avian auditory periphery. J Comp Physiol A 164:289–296

    Google Scholar 

  • Manley GA, Gleich O, Leppelsack H-J, Oeckinghaus H (1985) Activity pattern of cochlear ganglion neurons in the starling. J Comp Physiol A 157:161–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Quine DB, Kreithen ML (1981) Frequency shift discrimination: Can homing pigeons locate infrasounds by Doppler shifts? J Comp Physiol 141:153–155

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenhall U (1970) Some morphological principles of the vestibular maculae in birds. Arch Klin Exp Ohren-, Nasenu Kehlkopfheilkd 197:154–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Sachs MB, Young ED, Lewis RH (1974) Discharge patterns of single fibers in the pigeon auditory nerve. Brain Res 70:431–447

    Google Scholar 

  • Sachs MB, Sinnott JM, Hienz RD (1978) Behavioral and physiological studies of hearing in birds. Fed Proc 37:2329–2335

    Google Scholar 

  • Schermuly L, Klinke R (1985) Change of characteristic frequency of pigeon primary auditory afferents with temperature. J Comp Physiol A 156:209–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Schermuly L, Klinke R (1990) Origin of infrasound sensitive neurones in the papilla basilaris of the pigeon — an HRP study. Submitted to Hearing Res

  • Smolders JWT, Klinke R (1986) Synchronized responses of primary auditory fibre populations in Caiman crocodilus (L.) to single tones and clicks. Hearing Res 24:89–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartzkopff J, Winter P (1960) Zur Anatomie der Vogelcochlea unter natürlichen Bedingungen. Biol Zbl 79:607–624

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka K, Smith CA (1975) Structure of the avian tectorial membrane. Ann Otol 84:287–296

    Google Scholar 

  • Temchin AN (1988) Unusual discharge patterns of single fibers in the pigeon's auditory nerve. J Comp Physiol A 163:99–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Theurich M, Langner G, Scheich H (1984) Infrasound responses in the midbrain of the guinea fowl. Neurosci Lett 49:81–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Tilney MS, Tilney MG, DeRosier DJ (1987) The distribution of hair cell bundle lengths and orientation suggests an unexpected pattern of hair cell stimulation in the chick cochlea. Hearing Res 25:141–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Yeowart NS, Evans MJ (1974) Thresholds of audibility for very low-frequency pure tones. J Acoust Soc Am 55:814–818

    Google Scholar 

  • Young ED, Sachs MB (1979) Representation of steady-state vowels in the temporal aspects of the discharge patterns of populations of auditory-nerve fibers. J Acoust Soc Am 66:1381–1403

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schermuly, L., Klinke, R. Infrasound sensitive neurones in the pigeon cochlear ganglion. J Comp Physiol A 166, 355–363 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00204808

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00204808

Key words

Navigation