Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Auditory Pathway

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 Cochlea

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.

Hair Cells

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.

Hearing

Hearing

When we hear a sound, our nervous system is detecting sound waves—pressure waves of mechanical energy traveling through a medium. The frequency of the wave is perceived as pitch, while the amplitude is perceived as loudness.

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex....

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

A non-canonical cholinergic pathway from the dorsal tail of the striatum to the auditory cortex.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Distinct electrophysiological properties of long-range GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons from the lateral amygdala to the auditory cortex of the mouse.

The Journal of physiology·2024

Same author

VIP-Expressing GABAergic Neurons: Disinhibitory vs. Inhibitory Motif and Its Role in Communication Across Neocortical Areas.

Frontiers in cellular neuroscience·2022

Same author

A Novel Layer 4 Corticofugal Cell Type/Projection Involved in Thalamo-Cortico-Striatal Sensory Processing.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2022

Same author

Corticofugal VIP Gabaergic Projection Neurons in the Mouse Auditory and Motor Cortex.

Frontiers in neural circuits·2021

Same author

Auditory Long-Range Parvalbumin Cortico-Striatal Neurons.

Frontiers in neural circuits·2020

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 13, 2026

Stereotactically-guided Ablation of the Rat Auditory Cortex, and Localization of the Lesion in the Brain

Stereotactically-guided Ablation of the Rat Auditory Cortex, and Localization of the Lesion in the Brain

Published on: October 11, 2017

Callosal projections drive neuronal-specific responses in the mouse auditory cortex.

Crystal Rock¹, Alfonso Junior Apicella²

¹Department of Biology, Neuroscience Institute, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience

|May 1, 2015

Summary

Callosal projections in the auditory cortex differentially affect neuron activity. Specific interneurons mediate suppression of corticocortical neurons and facilitation of corticocollicular neurons, revealing new circuits for spatial hearing.

Keywords:

auditory cortex excitation feedforward inferior colliculus inhibition interhemispheric communication

More Related Videos

In Vitro Wedge Slice Preparation for Mimicking In Vivo Neuronal Circuit Connectivity

In Vitro Wedge Slice Preparation for Mimicking In Vivo Neuronal Circuit Connectivity

Published on: August 18, 2020

Slicing the Embryonic Chicken Auditory Brainstem to Evaluate Tonotopic Gradients and Microcircuits

Slicing the Embryonic Chicken Auditory Brainstem to Evaluate Tonotopic Gradients and Microcircuits

Published on: July 12, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 13, 2026

Stereotactically-guided Ablation of the Rat Auditory Cortex, and Localization of the Lesion in the Brain

Stereotactically-guided Ablation of the Rat Auditory Cortex, and Localization of the Lesion in the Brain

Published on: October 11, 2017

In Vitro Wedge Slice Preparation for Mimicking In Vivo Neuronal Circuit Connectivity

In Vitro Wedge Slice Preparation for Mimicking In Vivo Neuronal Circuit Connectivity

Published on: August 18, 2020

Slicing the Embryonic Chicken Auditory Brainstem to Evaluate Tonotopic Gradients and Microcircuits

Slicing the Embryonic Chicken Auditory Brainstem to Evaluate Tonotopic Gradients and Microcircuits

Published on: July 12, 2022

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Auditory Neuroscience
Computational Neuroscience

Background:

Interhemispheric communication in the auditory cortex (AC) is crucial for spatial hearing.
The specific neuronal microcircuits involved in callosal projections remain largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the functional effects of interhemispheric inputs on distinct pyramidal neuron populations in the mouse AC.
To elucidate the microcircuits underlying callosal projections in layer 5 of the AC.

Main Methods:

Optogenetics was used to directly examine the functional impact of interhemispheric inputs.
Pyramidal neurons in layer 5 were distinguished by their output targets: corticocortical (CCort) or corticocollicular (CCol).

Main Results:

Callosal projections were found to suppress the activity of CCort pyramidal neurons.
Conversely, callosal projections were observed to facilitate the firing of CCol pyramidal neurons.
This differential effect is mediated by the activation of fast-spiking parvalbumin-expressing interneurons (FS-PARV), which selectively inhibit CCort neurons.

Conclusions:

Two novel cortical circuits governing interhemispheric communication in the AC were identified: one for callosal suppression (via FS-PARV to CCort) and one for facilitation (to CCol).
A specific role for FS-PARV interneurons in modulating interhemispheric communication within the AC was established.