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Deviance sensitivity in the auditory cortex of freely moving rats
Ana Polterovich1,2, Maciej M Jankowski1,2, Israel Nelken1,2
1Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
Plos One
|June 7, 2018
Summary
True deviance sensitivity in the auditory cortex was demonstrated in awake rats. This finding distinguishes it from stimulus-specific adaptation, showing a specific response to surprising auditory stimuli.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Sensory Processing
Background:
- Deviance sensitivity, the brain's response to unexpected stimuli, is often confused with stimulus-specific adaptation (SSA) in auditory processing.
- SSA involves reduced neural responses to frequently heard sounds, with partial generalization to rare sounds, typically measured using oddball sequences.
- Distinguishing true deviance sensitivity requires controlling for expectations set by frequent stimuli, a challenge in previous auditory cortex studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and confirm the presence of true deviance sensitivity in the primary auditory cortex of awake, freely moving rats.
- To differentiate deviance sensitivity from stimulus-specific adaptation (SSA) in a naturalistic behavioral state.
- To establish a more accurate understanding of auditory novelty detection in the primary auditory cortex.
Main Methods:
- Recording local field potentials and multiunit activity from the auditory cortex of awake, freely moving rats.
- Utilizing 32-channel drivable microelectrode arrays and telemetry for continuous monitoring.
- Employing control sequences with multiple standards to eliminate stimulus-specific adaptation effects and isolate deviance sensitivity.
Main Results:
- Significant stimulus-specific adaptation (SSA) was observed in awake rats, confirming its presence in this state.
- Responses to deviant tones were significantly larger than responses to the same tones presented in a control condition with multiple standards.
- These findings indicate that the primary auditory cortex exhibits true deviance sensitivity in awake rats.
Conclusions:
- True deviance sensitivity, a specific response to surprising auditory stimuli, is present in the primary auditory cortex of awake rats.
- This contrasts with findings in anesthetized rats, where responses to deviants and control tones were comparable.
- The study successfully differentiates deviance sensitivity from SSA, providing crucial insights into auditory novelty processing in alert mammals.
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