Vocalization modulates the mouse auditory cortex even in the absence of hearing

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Auditory Neuroscience
• Animal Communication

Background:

• Vocal communication requires distinguishing self-vocalizations from external sounds.
• Vocal motor corollary discharge (CD) is hypothesized to suppress auditory feedback.
• Courtship vocalizations occur with movement and arousal, potentially affecting auditory processing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate vocalization-specific modulations in the auditory cortex during social interaction.
• To determine if corollary discharge signals are independent of auditory feedback and experience.

Main Methods:

• Monitoring auditory cortical activity, ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), and non-vocal behaviors in head-fixed male mice during social interaction.
• Analyzing the relationship between vocalization characteristics and auditory cortex activity.
• Examining auditory cortex activity in congenitally deaf mice during social interactions.

Main Results:

• A vocalization-specific signature was identified in the auditory cortex that suppresses responses to USV playback.
• This signature preceded vocal onset and scaled with USV band power.
• The vocal modulatory signature was present in congenitally deaf mice, indicating independence from auditory feedback.

Conclusions:

• An adaptive vocal corollary discharge signal exists in the auditory cortex.
• This signal functions independently of auditory feedback and prior auditory experience.
• This finding sheds light on the neural mechanisms of self-vocalization processing.