Stimulus-specific adaptations in the gaze control system of the barn owl.

摘要: Abrupt orientation to novel stimuli is a critical, memory-dependent task performed by the brain. In present study, we examined two gaze control centers of barn owl: optic tectum (OT) and arcopallium fields (AGFs). Responses neurons long sequences dichotic sound bursts comprised sounds differing in probability appearance were analyzed. We report that auditory OT AGFs tend respond stronger rarely presented (novel sounds) than same when frequently. This history-dependent phenomenon, known as stimulus-specific adaptation (SSA), was demonstrated for rare frequencies, binaural localization cues [interaural time difference (ITD) level (ILD)] amplitudes. The manifestation SSA such variety independent acoustic features, midbrain forebrain, supports notion involved sensory memory novelty detection. To track origin SSA, analyzed responses external nucleus inferior colliculus (ICX; source input OT) similar bursts. Neurons ICX responded but did not differently ITDs, ILDs, or hypothesize part reported here computed high-level networks, giving rise signals modulate tectal context-dependent manner.