Auditory space representation in the superior colliculus of the big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus. 1984

T Shimozawa, and X Sun, and P H Jen

The auditory response areas of 123 superior collicular (SC) units of Eptesicus fuscus were studied under free-field acoustic stimulus conditions. A stimulus was delivered from a loudspeaker placed 14 cm in front of a bat. The best frequency of a unit was determined by changing the stimulus frequency until the minimum threshold was measured. A best frequency stimulus was then delivered as the loud-speaker was moved across the auditory space to determine the response center of the auditory response area of each unit. The response center was defined as the direction at which the unit had its lowest minimum threshold. The stimulus intensity was then raised 2-20 dB above the lowest minimum threshold of the unit and the response area for each stimulus intensity was determined. The response area of a unit expands with stimulus intensity, but the expansion is not even in all directions. The size of the response area of a unit does not correlate with its minimum threshold, best frequency, or recording depth. Response centers of 7 units were located directly in front of the animal, but most response centers were located in a limited portion of the contralateral auditory space. Although each unit has a response center which is the point of maximal sensitivity, the point-to-point representation of the auditory space is not systematically organized. We suggest that an animal with highly mobile external pinnae may not need an orderly auditory space map in its neural tissue for accurate sound localization.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002685 Chiroptera Order of mammals whose members are adapted for flight. It includes bats, flying foxes, and fruit bats. Bats,Flying Foxes,Horseshoe Bats,Pteropodidae,Pteropus,Rhinolophus,Rousettus,Bat, Horseshoe,Bats, Horseshoe,Foxes, Flying,Horseshoe Bat
D004553 Electric Conductivity The ability of a substrate to allow the passage of ELECTRONS. Electrical Conductivity,Conductivity, Electric,Conductivity, Electrical
D000161 Acoustic Stimulation Use of sound to elicit a response in the nervous system. Auditory Stimulation,Stimulation, Acoustic,Stimulation, Auditory
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001307 Auditory Perception The process whereby auditory stimuli are selected, organized, and interpreted by the organism. Auditory Processing,Perception, Auditory,Processing, Auditory
D013477 Superior Colliculi The anterior pair of the quadrigeminal bodies which coordinate the general behavioral orienting responses to visual stimuli, such as whole-body turning, and reaching. Colliculus, Superior,Optic Lobe, Human,Optic Lobe, Mammalian,Optic Tectum,Anterior Colliculus,Superior Colliculus,Tectum, Optic,Colliculi, Superior,Colliculus, Anterior,Human Optic Lobe,Human Optic Lobes,Mammalian Optic Lobe,Mammalian Optic Lobes,Optic Lobes, Human,Optic Lobes, Mammalian,Optic Tectums,Tectums, Optic

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