Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Cochlea01:13

The Cochlea

45.7K
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.
45.7K
Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location01:21

Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location

395
The human brain perceives pitch through two primary mechanisms reflected in place theory and frequency theory. Each mechanism describes how sound waves are interpreted as specific pitches by the brain, offering insights into the intricate processes of auditory perception.
Place theory, or place coding, suggests that different pitches are heard because various sound waves activate specific locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane. The brain determines the pitch of a sound by...
395
Convergent Evolution01:54

Convergent Evolution

28.3K
Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.
28.3K
Auditory Pathway01:15

Auditory Pathway

5.6K
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...
5.6K
Action Potential01:31

Action Potential

8.2K
Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they...
8.2K
Hair Cells01:22

Hair Cells

41.1K
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.
41.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Unpredictable prey motion shapes behavior across timescales.

The Journal of experimental biology·2026
Same author

Discovering the acoustic cue for target ranging by bats.

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·2026
Same author

Passive Physiological Responses Fail to Predict Context-Dependent Action Selection in Bats.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

The Simons Collaboration on Ecological Neuroscience: Studying how the brain interacts with the world.

Neuron·2026
Same author

Unpredictable Prey Motion Shapes Behavior Across Timescales.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Natural auditory behaviors invoke cognitive brain networks.

Current opinion in neurobiology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 24, 2025

Juxtacellular Monitoring and Localization of Single Neurons within Sub-cortical Brain Structures of Alert, Head-restrained Rats
08:41

Juxtacellular Monitoring and Localization of Single Neurons within Sub-cortical Brain Structures of Alert, Head-restrained Rats

Published on: April 27, 2015

11.5K

Neural coding of 3D spatial location, orientation, and action selection in echolocating bats.

Angeles Salles1, Melville J Wohlgemuth2, Cynthia F Moss3

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.

Trends in Neurosciences
|October 24, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Echolocating bats use active sensing for flight and navigation. Their brains process 3D sound information for precise audio-motor control, guiding movement and foraging in complex environments.

Keywords:
3D spatial representationauditory localizationflight controlsensorimotor integrationsonar rangingtactile sensing

More Related Videos

Multiscale Investigations of Cortical Processing by Integrating Laminar Polytrodes and Optogenetics with Micro Electrocorticography in Rodents
07:52

Multiscale Investigations of Cortical Processing by Integrating Laminar Polytrodes and Optogenetics with Micro Electrocorticography in Rodents

Published on: May 23, 2025

319
Extracellular Wire Tetrode Recording in Brain of Freely Walking Insects
15:28

Extracellular Wire Tetrode Recording in Brain of Freely Walking Insects

Published on: April 1, 2014

16.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 24, 2025

Juxtacellular Monitoring and Localization of Single Neurons within Sub-cortical Brain Structures of Alert, Head-restrained Rats
08:41

Juxtacellular Monitoring and Localization of Single Neurons within Sub-cortical Brain Structures of Alert, Head-restrained Rats

Published on: April 27, 2015

11.5K
Multiscale Investigations of Cortical Processing by Integrating Laminar Polytrodes and Optogenetics with Micro Electrocorticography in Rodents
07:52

Multiscale Investigations of Cortical Processing by Integrating Laminar Polytrodes and Optogenetics with Micro Electrocorticography in Rodents

Published on: May 23, 2025

319
Extracellular Wire Tetrode Recording in Brain of Freely Walking Insects
15:28

Extracellular Wire Tetrode Recording in Brain of Freely Walking Insects

Published on: April 1, 2014

16.7K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroethology
  • Sensory Biology
  • Mammalian Flight

Background:

  • Echolocating bats are unique mammals with powered flight capabilities.
  • They utilize active sensing for foraging and obstacle avoidance in three-dimensional (3D) spaces.
  • These behaviors rely on sophisticated neural processing for spatial awareness and motor control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying 3D auditory localization in echolocating bats.
  • To understand the integration of audio-motor pathways for navigation and flight control.
  • To explore the role of attention and action selection in modulating these sensory-motor circuits.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing neurophysiological recordings during flight and echolocation tasks.
  • Employing computational modeling to analyze neural responses to auditory stimuli.
  • Behavioral experiments to assess spatial navigation and foraging efficiency.

Main Results:

  • Identified neural circuits critical for precise 3D auditory localization.
  • Demonstrated effective audio-motor integration supporting real-time navigation.
  • Showcased how spatial attention influences sensory processing and motor output.

Conclusions:

  • Echolocating bats possess advanced neural systems for navigating complex 3D environments using sound.
  • The integration of auditory information with motor control is essential for their survival and foraging success.
  • Understanding these systems provides insights into sensory processing, motor control, and attention in mammals.