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ON-OFF receptive fields in auditory cortex diverge during development and contribute to directional sweep selectivity
Joseph Sollini1, Gaëlle A Chapuis1, Claudia Clopath2
1Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
Nature Communications
|May 27, 2018
Summary
The developing auditory cortex forms distinct ON and OFF frequency receptive fields (RFs) through natural sound alternations. This organization explains how neurons achieve direction selectivity for frequency-modulated sounds.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Computational Neuroscience
Background:
- Neurons in the auditory cortex show frequency tuning to sound onsets (ON) and offsets (OFF).
- The developmental origins and functional significance of this ON/OFF receptive field (RF) organization remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental basis of ON/OFF RF organization in the auditory cortex.
- To determine the role of this organization in auditory processing, specifically direction selectivity.
Main Methods:
- Compared frequency tuning in immature versus mature mouse auditory cortex.
- Utilized a novel Hebbian plasticity model simulation.
- Performed neuronal recordings to test model predictions.
Main Results:
- Distinct ON and OFF frequency tuning is largely absent in immature auditory cortex, indicating it arises during development.
- Simulations showed that sound onset-offset alternations are sufficient to form adjacent ON and OFF RFs.
- Model predictions of ON/OFF RF contribution to direction selectivity were confirmed by neuronal recordings.
Conclusions:
- Hebbian plasticity, driven by natural sound patterns, can explain the development of ON/OFF RFs in the auditory cortex.
- The established ON/OFF RF organization is crucial for developing direction selectivity to frequency-modulated sounds.
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