Diverse functions of the auditory cortico-collicular pathway

Sensory processing is frequently conceptualized as a linear flow of information from peripheral receptors through hierarchically organized brain regions, ultimately reaching the cortex. In reality, this ascending stream is accompanied by massive descending connections that cascade from the cortex toward more peripheral subcortical structures. In the central auditory system, these feedback connections influence information processing at virtually every level of the pathway, including the thalamus, midbrain, and brainstem, and exert influence even at the level of the cochlea. The auditory cortico-collicular system, which connects the auditory cortex to the auditory midbrain, mediates manifold functions ranging from tuning shifts to defense behavior. In this review, we first summarize recent findings regarding the anatomical organization and physiological properties of the auditory cortico-collicular pathway. We then highlight several new studies that show that this projection system mediates high-level cognitive processes, acoustico-motor behaviors, and auditory plasticity, and discuss the circuit mechanisms through which they are mediated. Finally, we discuss remaining unanswered questions regarding cortico-collicular circuitry and function and potential avenues for future exploration.