The Mammalian Auditory Pathways

Description

The auditory system is a complex neural system composed of many types of neurons connected into networks. One feature that sets the auditory system apart from other sensory systems, such as somatosensory or visual systems, is the many stages of neural processing that occur between the ear in the periphery and the cerebral cortex. Each stage is composed of specialized types of neurons connected in specific microcircuits that perform computations on the information about sound. To understand this processing, all the tools of neuroscience must be employed. The proposed text integrates cell biology, synaptic physiology, and electrophysiology to fully develop the topic, presenting an overview of the functional anatomy of the central auditory system. It is organized based on the neuronal connectivity of the central auditory system, which emphasizes the neurons, their synaptic organization, and their formation of functional pathways and microcircuits. The goal of the book is to stimulate research into the cell biology of the central auditory system and the characteristics of the specific neurons and connections that are necessary for normal hearing. Future research on the development of the central auditory including that employing stem cells will require such information in order to engineer appropriate therapeutic approaches. ​ Front Matter ....Pages i-xviii Introduction to Mammalian Auditory Pathways (Douglas L. Oliver, Nell B. Cant)....Pages 1-6 Overview of Auditory Projection Pathways and Intrinsic Microcircuits (Nell B. Cant, Douglas L. Oliver)....Pages 7-39 Microcircuits of the Ventral Cochlear Nucleus (Maria E. Rubio)....Pages 41-71 Microcircuits of the Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus (Laurence O. Trussell, Donata Oertel)....Pages 73-99 Integration of Synaptic and Intrinsic Conductances Shapes Microcircuits in the Superior Olivary Complex (Conny Kopp-Scheinpflug, Ian D. Forsythe)....Pages 101-126 Neurons, Connections, and Microcircuits of the Inferior Colliculus (Tetsufumi Ito, Manuel S. Malmierca)....Pages 127-167 Sensing Sound Through Thalamocortical Afferent Architecture and Cortical Microcircuits (Heather L. Read, Alex D. Reyes)....Pages 169-198 Auditory Cortex Circuits (Eike Budinger, Patrick O. Kanold)....Pages 199-233 Circuits for Modulation of Auditory Function (Brett R. Schofield, Laura Hurley)....Pages 235-267