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Updated: Apr 25, 2026

Stereotactically-guided Ablation of the Rat Auditory Cortex, and Localization of the Lesion in the Brain
Published on: October 11, 2017
A synaptic and circuit basis for corollary discharge in the auditory cortex
David M Schneider1, Anders Nelson1, Richard Mooney2
11] Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA [2].
Motor signals suppress auditory cortex activity before and during movement, mediated by specific neurons and interneurons. This research clarifies the neural basis of corollary discharge for improved hearing and auditory behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Motor Control
Background:
- Sensory brain regions integrate environmental cues with motor signals for movement.
- Motor cortex to auditory cortex pathways are crucial for hearing and behavior, but mechanisms are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the synaptic and circuit mechanisms by which motor-related signals influence auditory cortical activity.
- To investigate the role of motor-related corollary discharge in auditory processing.
Main Methods:
- In vivo intracellular recordings in behaving mice.
- Electrophysiology and optogenetic gain- and loss-of-function experiments.
- Analysis of neuronal activity in the auditory and secondary motor cortices.
Main Results:
- Excitatory neurons in the auditory cortex are suppressed before and during movement.
- Increased activity of parvalbumin-positive interneurons contributes to this suppression.
- A subset of secondary motor cortex neurons projecting to the auditory cortex drives these motor-related changes.
Conclusions:
- Provides a synaptic and circuit basis for motor-related corollary discharge.
- Explains how motor commands influence auditory cortical dynamics.
- Offers insights into mechanisms facilitating hearing and auditory-guided behaviors.
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