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Binaurality and azimuth tuning of neurons in the auditory cortex of the big brown bat

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Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

By using a combined closed and free-field stimulation system, binaurality and azimuth tuning of the neurons in the auditory cortex of the big brown bat,Eptesicus fuscus, were studied. A variety of azimuth-tuning functions were demonstrated for the binaural neurons. The large majority of EE (contralateral and ipsilateral excitatory) neurons exhibited azimuth selectivity with the best azimuths (BA) at contralateral 30°–40°, some at ipsilateral 20°-40° and preferred azimuth ranges (PAR, response amplitude ⩾75% of maximum) between 8° and 40°. Sound source azimuths strongly modulate spike counts with a mean modulation depth of 83.8% for EE neurons. EI (contralateral excitatory and ipsilateral inhibitory) neurons have simple azimuth tuning with BA located at contralateral 20°-40° and a broad PAR ranged from 30° to 55°. The present results suggest that azimuth-tuning characteristics of binaural neurons in the auditory cortex of the bat are of significance for acoustic behaviour.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Brain and Cognitive Science, Laboratory of Visual Information Processing, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China

    Junxian Shen

  2. Department of Biology, Central China Normal University, 430070, Wuhan, China

    Qicai Chen

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  1. Junxian Shen
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  2. Qicai Chen
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Correspondence to Junxian Shen.

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Shen, J., Chen, Q. Binaurality and azimuth tuning of neurons in the auditory cortex of the big brown bat. Chin. Sci. Bull. 47, 1024–1027 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02907575

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02907575

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