Adaptation of Different Types of Neurons in the Midbrain Auditory Center to Sound Pulse Sequences

Frequency response areas of neurons in the mouse inferior colliculus. III. Time-domain responses: Constancy, dynamics, and precision in relation to spectral resolution, and perception in the time domain

“…In addition to the neurons which served as data base in the Egorova et al study [ 23 ], the present study also includes 13 neurons of which only excitatory frequency response areas had been recorded before. The evaluation of the precision of tone-response latencies in the present study is based on published recordings of responses from excitatory FRAs of ICC neurons [ 43 , 54 – 56 ]. Since detailed descriptions of materials and methods have already been published [ 23 , 54 ], only some essential points are mentioned here.…”

“…Virgin female house mice (Mus musculus, hybrids of outbred strain NMRI and feral mice [ 23 , 43 ]; F1 hybrids of CBA and C57BL/6 strain [ 43 , 54 – 56 ]) aged 8–15 weeks, were anesthetized (0.2% oxygen, 1.5–1.8% halothane [ 23 , 43 ]; 120 mg/kg body weight ketamine plus 5 mg/kg xylazine intraperitoneally [ 43 , 54 – 56 ]) to perform a craniotomy over the left side IC. The dura overlaying the IC was removed and warm silicon oil applied to the brain surface.…”

“…The animal’s rectal temperature was kept at 37 ± 1° C by a feedback-controlled heating pad. At the end of the experiment, the anesthetized animal was killed by cervical dislocation [ 23 ] or by an overdose of anesthetic [ 54 – 56 ]. The experiments were carried out in accordance with the European Communities Council Directives (86/609/EEC and 2010/63EU) and were approved by the Regierungspräsidium Tübingen (Germany) or the Russian Foundation for Basic Research.…”

“…Tone bursts were generated either by a computer controlled Tacita [ 23 ] or TMS 320 C30 [ 43 , 54 – 56 ] D/A converter system. They were initiated at zero phase, had a duration of 60 ms [ 23 , 43 ] or 100 ms [ 54 – 56 ] including 5 ms trapezoidal rise and fall times in both cases, and were delivered at intervals of 300 ms [ 23 , 43 ] or 800 ms [ 54 – 56 ].…”

“…Tone bursts were generated either by a computer controlled Tacita [ 23 ] or TMS 320 C30 [ 43 , 54 – 56 ] D/A converter system. They were initiated at zero phase, had a duration of 60 ms [ 23 , 43 ] or 100 ms [ 54 – 56 ] including 5 ms trapezoidal rise and fall times in both cases, and were delivered at intervals of 300 ms [ 23 , 43 ] or 800 ms [ 54 – 56 ]. With additional intensity adjustment via dB attenuators and amplifiers for the loudspeakers, the total ranges of sound pressure levels (SPLs) available without significant harmonic distortion products were from -20 dB to 90 dB [ 23 ] or -10 dB to 100 dB [ 43 , 54 – 56 ].…”