Inverted central auditory hierarchies for encoding local intervals and global temporal patterns.

摘要: Summary In sensory systems, representational features of increasing complexity emerge at successive stages processing. the mammalian auditory pathway, clearest change from brainstem to cortex is defined by what lost, not gained, in that high-fidelity temporal coding becomes increasingly restricted slower acoustic modulation rates. 1 , 2 Here, we explore idea sluggish processing more than just an inability for fast processing, but instead reflects emergent specialization encoding sound unfold on very slow timescales. 3 4 We performed simultaneous single unit ensemble recordings three hierarchical awake mice – inferior colliculus (IC), medial geniculate body thalamus (MGB) and primary (A1). As expected, brief local intervals (0.001 0.1 s) separating consecutive noise bursts was robust IC declined across MGB A1. By contrast, slowly developing (∼1 s period) global rhythmic patterns inter-burst interval sequences strongly modulated A1 spiking, were weakly captured neurons, all neurons. Shifts stimulus regularity represented changes spike rates, rather how spikes arranged time. These findings show low-level neurons with timescales encode isolated longer gestalt, while extended higher-level areas can facilitate sensitivity contextual environment.