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Related Concept Videos

The Cochlea01:13

The Cochlea

The cochlea is a coiled structure in the inner ear that contains hair cells—the sensory receptors of the auditory system. Sound waves are transmitted to the cochlea by small bones attached to the eardrum called the ossicles, which vibrate the oval window that leads to the inner ear. This causes fluid in the chambers of the cochlea to move, vibrating the basilar membrane.
Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers01:24

Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers

Local anesthetics (LAs) block the sodium channels of nerve trunks, sensory nerve endings, and neuromuscular junctions. Although LAs can block all kinds of nerves, the sensitivity of nerve fibers differs according to nerve types and structures. LAs are known to block myelinated fibers faster than unmyelinated ones. Also, they block pain or sensory neurons at low concentrations without affecting the motor neurons involved in muscle contractions. This helps relieve labor pain without affecting the...
Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System01:11

Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System

The somatosensory system is the central and peripheral nervous system component that senses and processes touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and body position or proprioception. The process of sensation takes place at three levels:
The receptor level:
The receptor level is the first stage of sensation. It involves the detection of a stimulus by specialized sensory receptors. The stimulus must arrive within the receptor's receptive field. Next, the receptor converts the energy of the stimulus...
Hair Cells01:22

Hair Cells

Hair cells are the sensory receptors of the auditory system—they transduce mechanical sound waves into electrical energy that the nervous system can understand. Hair cells are located in the organ of Corti within the cochlea of the inner ear, between the basilar and tectorial membranes. The actual sensory receptors are called inner hair cells. The outer hair cells serve other functions, such as sound amplification in the cochlea, and are not discussed in detail here.
Somatosensation01:33

Somatosensation

The somatosensory system relays sensory information from the skin, mucous membranes, limbs, and joints. Somatosensation is more familiarly known as the sense of touch. A typical somatosensory pathway includes three types of long neurons: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary neurons have cell bodies located near the spinal cord in groups of neurons called dorsal root ganglia. The sensory neurons of ganglia innervate designated areas of skin called dermatomes.
Auditory Pathway01:15

Auditory Pathway

Auditory pathways constitute the complex neural circuits responsible for transmitting and interpreting auditory information from the peripheral auditory system to the brain. Sound waves are initially captured by the outer ear, funneled through the ear canal, and reach the tympanic membrane (eardrum). These vibrations are transmitted via the middle ear's ossicles to the inner ear's cochlea.
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking the...

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Examining Local Network Processing using Multi-contact Laminar Electrode Recording
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Published on: September 8, 2011

Neural heterogeneities influence envelope and temporal coding at the sensory periphery.

M Savard1, R Krahe, M J Chacron

  • 1Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Neuroscience
|November 2, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Electroreceptors in weakly electric fish show nonlinear responses to high-frequency stimuli, revealing a more complex neural code than previously understood. This suggests information is encoded in the precise timing of nerve impulses, not just firing rate.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sensory Biology
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • Peripheral sensory neurons process a broad spectrum of spatio-temporal frequencies.
  • Previous studies on electroreceptor neuron coding in Apteronotus leptorhynchus focused on lower frequencies (<256 Hz), suggesting a linear rate code.
  • The upper behaviorally relevant frequency range for these fish extends beyond previously studied limits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate electroreceptor neuron coding at high temporal frequencies (up to 425 Hz) in the weakly electric fish Apteronotus leptorhynchus.
  • To determine if electroreceptor responses exhibit nonlinearities at these higher frequencies.
  • To explore the role of afferent heterogeneity and rectification in nonlinear coding.

Main Methods:

  • Electrophysiological recordings from electroreceptor neurons in Apteronotus leptorhynchus.
  • Stimulation with temporal frequencies up to 425 Hz.
  • Analysis of response coherence and comparison with linear models and a phenomenological mathematical model.
  • Experimental verification of model predictions regarding rectification.

Main Results:

  • Electroreceptors respond to stimuli up to 425 Hz, demonstrating functionality in the upper behaviorally relevant range.
  • Strong nonlinearities were observed, including responses to low-frequency envelopes and higher harmonics not present in the stimulus waveform.
  • Afferent heterogeneity, specifically lower baseline firing rates, correlated with stronger nonlinear responses and greater rectification.
  • A mathematical model confirmed that rectification in low-firing-rate afferents explains the observed nonlinearities and harmonic generation.

Conclusions:

  • Electroreceptor coding is nonlinear at high temporal frequencies, challenging previous linear models.
  • Rectification in afferent neurons contributes to encoding stimulus envelopes and generating higher harmonics.
  • Information is encoded not only by firing rate but also by the fine temporal structure of spike trains.
  • Neuronal population heterogeneity significantly impacts the nature of the neural code.