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Phase de-synchronization effects auditory gating in the ventral striatum but not auditory cortex
M L Woldeit1, A L Schulz, F W Ohl
1Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Systems Physiology of Learning, Magdeburg, Germany. Marie.Woldeit@lin-magdeburg.de
Neuroscience
|May 3, 2012
Summary
Auditory gating, the brain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Processing
- Sensory Gating
Background:
- Mechanisms of sensory gating for repetitive auditory stimuli are not fully understood.
- The role of the auditory cortex and temporal precision in auditory gating is debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate auditory gating dynamics in the primary auditory cortex and ventral striatum.
- To assess the influence of the auditory cortex on sensory gating.
- To test the hypothesis that auditory gating involves phase de-synchronization.
Main Methods:
- Recorded local field potentials in Mongolian gerbils' auditory cortex and ventral striatum.
- Stimulated with trains of frequency-modulated tones.
- Analyzed gating via amplitude ratios, time-frequency analysis, and between-area phase coupling.
Main Results:
- Auditory gating was over 50% stronger in the ventral striatum than in the auditory cortex.
- Energy in the striatum was mainly non-phase-locked, while auditory cortex energy remained phase-locked.
- Observed between-area phase unlocking during sound presentation.
Conclusions:
- Phase de-synchronization in the ventral striatum is a likely mechanism for auditory gating.
- Direct inhibitory suppression by the auditory cortex plays a minimal role in this gating process.
