DSCF neurons within the primary auditory cortex of the mustached bat process frequency modulations present within social calls.

ABSTRACT: Neurons in the Doppler-shifted constant frequency processing (DSCF) area in the primary auditory cortex of mustached bats, Pteronotus parnellii, are multifunctional, responding both to echolocation and communication sounds. Simultaneous presentation of a DSCF neuron's best low and high frequencies (BF(low) and BF(high), respectively) facilitates its response. BF(low) corresponds to a frequency in the frequency-modulated (FM) component of the first harmonic in the echolocation pulse, and BF(high) corresponds to the constant frequency (CF) component in the second harmonic of the echo. We systematically varied the slopes, bandwidths, and central frequencies of FMs traversing the BF(high) region to arrive at the "best FM" for single DSCF neurons. We report that nearly half (46%) of DSCF neuron

SUBMITTER: Washington SD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2604848 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature