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Neural Representation of Auditory Temporal Structure

Citation

Lewicki, Michael Samuel (1996) Neural Representation of Auditory Temporal Structure. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/99jm-m070. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:04092013-090259511

Abstract

Neurons in the songbird forebrain nucleus HVc are highly sensitive to auditory temporal context and have some of the most complex auditory tuning properties yet discovered. HVc is crucial for learning, perceiving, and producing song, thus it is important to understand the neural circuitry and mechanisms that give rise to these remarkable auditory response properties. This thesis investigates these issues experimentally and computationally.

Extracellular studies reported here compare the auditory context sensitivity of neurons in HV c with neurons in the afferent areas of field L. These demonstrate that there is a substantial increase in the auditory temporal context sensitivity from the areas of field L to HVc. Whole-cell recordings of HVc neurons from acute brain slices are described which show that excitatory synaptic transmission between HVc neurons involve the release of glutamate and the activation of both AMPA/kainate and NMDA-type glutamate receptors. Additionally, widespread inhibitory interactions exist between HVc neurons that are mediated by postsynaptic GABA_A receptors. Intracellular recordings of HVc auditory neurons in vivo provides evidence that HV c neurons encode information about temporal structure using a variety of cellular and synaptic mechanisms including syllable-specific inhibition, excitatory post-synaptic potentials with a range of different time courses, and burst-firing, and song-specific hyperpolarization.

The final part of this thesis presents two computational approaches for representing and learning temporal structure. The first method utilizes comput ational elements that are analogous to temporal combination sensitive neurons in HVc. A network of these elements can learn using local information and lateral inhibition. The second method presents a more general framework which allows a network to discover mixtures of temporal features in a continuous stream of input.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:Computation and Neural Systems
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Biology
Major Option:Computation and Neural Systems
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Konishi, Masakazu
Thesis Committee:
  • Unknown, Unknown
Defense Date:22 January 1996
Record Number:CaltechTHESIS:04092013-090259511
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:04092013-090259511
DOI:10.7907/99jm-m070
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:7592
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Benjamin Perez
Deposited On:09 Apr 2013 16:19
Last Modified:16 Apr 2021 22:58

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