1
|
García-Rosales F, Schaworonkow N, Hechavarria JC. Oscillatory Waveform Shape and Temporal Spike Correlations Differ across Bat Frontal and Auditory Cortex. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1236232023. [PMID: 38262724 PMCID: PMC10919256 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1236-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Neural oscillations are associated with diverse computations in the mammalian brain. The waveform shape of oscillatory activity measured in the cortex relates to local physiology and can be informative about aberrant or dynamically changing states. However, how waveform shape differs across distant yet functionally and anatomically related cortical regions is largely unknown. In this study, we capitalize on simultaneous recordings of local field potentials (LFPs) in the auditory and frontal cortices of awake, male Carollia perspicillata bats to examine, on a cycle-by-cycle basis, waveform shape differences across cortical regions. We find that waveform shape differs markedly in the fronto-auditory circuit even for temporally correlated rhythmic activity in comparable frequency ranges (i.e., in the delta and gamma bands) during spontaneous activity. In addition, we report consistent differences between areas in the variability of waveform shape across individual cycles. A conceptual model predicts higher spike-spike and spike-LFP correlations in regions with more asymmetric shapes, a phenomenon that was observed in the data: spike-spike and spike-LFP correlations were higher in the frontal cortex. The model suggests a relationship between waveform shape differences and differences in spike correlations across cortical areas. Altogether, these results indicate that oscillatory activity in the frontal and auditory cortex possesses distinct dynamics related to the anatomical and functional diversity of the fronto-auditory circuit.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco García-Rosales
- Ernst Strüngmann Institute (ESI) for Neuroscience in Cooperation with Max Planck Society, Frankfurt am Main 60528, Germany
| | - Natalie Schaworonkow
- Ernst Strüngmann Institute (ESI) for Neuroscience in Cooperation with Max Planck Society, Frankfurt am Main 60528, Germany
| | - Julio C Hechavarria
- Institut für Zellbiologie und Neurowissenschaft, Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kiai A, Clemens J, Kössl M, Poeppel D, Hechavarría J. Flexible control of vocal timing in Carollia perspicillata bats enables escape from acoustic interference. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1153. [PMID: 37957351 PMCID: PMC10643407 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05507-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In natural environments, background noise can degrade the integrity of acoustic signals, posing a problem for animals that rely on their vocalizations for communication and navigation. A simple behavioral strategy to combat acoustic interference would be to restrict call emissions to periods of low-amplitude or no noise. Using audio playback and computational tools for the automated detection of over 2.5 million vocalizations from groups of freely vocalizing bats, we show that bats (Carollia perspicillata) can dynamically adapt the timing of their calls to avoid acoustic jamming in both predictably and unpredictably patterned noise. This study demonstrates that bats spontaneously seek out temporal windows of opportunity for vocalizing in acoustically crowded environments, providing a mechanism for efficient echolocation and communication in cluttered acoustic landscapes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ava Kiai
- Institute for Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Jan Clemens
- European Neuroscience Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Manfred Kössl
- Institute for Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - David Poeppel
- Ernst Strüngmann Institute, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Julio Hechavarría
- Institute for Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Macias S, Bakshi K, Troyer T, Smotherman M. The prefrontal cortex of the Mexican free-tailed bat is more selective to communication calls than primary auditory cortex. J Neurophysiol 2022; 128:634-648. [PMID: 35975923 PMCID: PMC9448334 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00436.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we examined the auditory responses of a prefrontal area, the frontal auditory field (FAF), of an echolocating bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) and presented a comparative analysis of the neuronal response properties between the FAF and the primary auditory cortex (A1). We compared single-unit responses from the A1 and the FAF elicited by pure tones, downward frequency-modulated sweeps (dFMs), and species-specific vocalizations. Unlike the A1, FAFs were not frequency tuned. However, progressive increases in dFM sweep rate elicited a systematic increase of response precision, a phenomenon that does not take place in the A1. Call selectivity was higher in the FAF versus A1. We calculated the neuronal spectrotemporal receptive fields (STRFs) and spike-triggered averages (STAs) to predict responses to the communication calls and provide an explanation for the differences in call selectivity between the FAF and A1. In the A1, we found a high correlation between predicted and evoked responses. However, we did not generate reasonable STRFs in the FAF, and the prediction based on the STAs showed lower correlation coefficient than that of the A1. This suggests nonlinear response properties in the FAF that are stronger than the linear response properties in the A1. Stimulating with a call sequence increased call selectivity in the A1, but it remained unchanged in the FAF. These data are consistent with a role for the FAF in assessing distinctive acoustic features downstream of A1, similar to the role proposed for primate ventrolateral prefrontal cortex.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In this study, we examined the neuronal responses of a frontal cortical area in an echolocating bat to behaviorally relevant acoustic stimuli and compared them with those in the primary auditory cortex (A1). In contrast to the A1, neurons in the bat frontal auditory field are not frequency tuned but showed a higher selectivity for social signals such as communication calls. The results presented here indicate that the frontal auditory field may represent an additional processing center for behaviorally relevant sounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvio Macias
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Kushal Bakshi
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Todd Troyer
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Michael Smotherman
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
- Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Echolocation-related reversal of information flow in a cortical vocalization network. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3642. [PMID: 35752629 PMCID: PMC9233670 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31230-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian frontal and auditory cortices are important for vocal behavior. Here, using local-field potential recordings, we demonstrate that the timing and spatial patterns of oscillations in the fronto-auditory network of vocalizing bats (Carollia perspicillata) predict the purpose of vocalization: echolocation or communication. Transfer entropy analyses revealed predominant top-down (frontal-to-auditory cortex) information flow during spontaneous activity and pre-vocal periods. The dynamics of information flow depend on the behavioral role of the vocalization and on the timing relative to vocal onset. We observed the emergence of predominant bottom-up (auditory-to-frontal) information transfer during the post-vocal period specific to echolocation pulse emission, leading to self-directed acoustic feedback. Electrical stimulation of frontal areas selectively enhanced responses to sounds in auditory cortex. These results reveal unique changes in information flow across sensory and frontal cortices, potentially driven by the purpose of the vocalization in a highly vocal mammalian model.
Collapse
|
5
|
Schwark RW, Fuxjager MJ, Schmidt MF. Proposing a neural framework for the evolution of elaborate courtship displays. eLife 2022; 11:e74860. [PMID: 35639093 PMCID: PMC9154748 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In many vertebrates, courtship occurs through the performance of elaborate behavioral displays that are as spectacular as they are complex. The question of how sexual selection acts upon these animals' neuromuscular systems to transform a repertoire of pre-existing movements into such remarkable (if not unusual) display routines has received relatively little research attention. This is a surprising gap in knowledge, given that unraveling this extraordinary process is central to understanding the evolution of behavioral diversity and its neural control. In many vertebrates, courtship displays often push the limits of neuromuscular performance, and often in a ritualized manner. These displays can range from songs that require rapid switching between two independently controlled 'voice boxes' to precisely choreographed acrobatics. Here, we propose a framework for thinking about how the brain might not only control these displays, but also shape their evolution. Our framework focuses specifically on a major midbrain area, which we view as a likely important node in the orchestration of the complex neural control of behavior used in the courtship process. This area is the periaqueductal grey (PAG), as studies suggest that it is both necessary and sufficient for the production of many instinctive survival behaviors, including courtship vocalizations. Thus, we speculate about why the PAG, as well as its key inputs, might serve as targets of sexual selection for display behavior. In doing so, we attempt to combine core ideas about the neural control of behavior with principles of display evolution. Our intent is to spur research in this area and bring together neurobiologists and behavioral ecologists to more fully understand the role that the brain might play in behavioral innovation and diversification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan W Schwark
- Department of Biology, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Matthew J Fuxjager
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Brown UniversityProvidenceUnited States
| | - Marc F Schmidt
- Department of Biology, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Beetz MJ, Hechavarría JC. Neural Processing of Naturalistic Echolocation Signals in Bats. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 16:899370. [PMID: 35664459 PMCID: PMC9157489 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2022.899370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Echolocation behavior, a navigation strategy based on acoustic signals, allows scientists to explore neural processing of behaviorally relevant stimuli. For the purpose of orientation, bats broadcast echolocation calls and extract spatial information from the echoes. Because bats control call emission and thus the availability of spatial information, the behavioral relevance of these signals is undiscussable. While most neurophysiological studies, conducted in the past, used synthesized acoustic stimuli that mimic portions of the echolocation signals, recent progress has been made to understand how naturalistic echolocation signals are encoded in the bat brain. Here, we review how does stimulus history affect neural processing, how spatial information from multiple objects and how echolocation signals embedded in a naturalistic, noisy environment are processed in the bat brain. We end our review by discussing the huge potential that state-of-the-art recording techniques provide to gain a more complete picture on the neuroethology of echolocation behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M. Jerome Beetz
- Zoology II, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Julio C. Hechavarría
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Adam EM, Brown EN, Kopell N, McCarthy MM. Deep brain stimulation in the subthalamic nucleus for Parkinson's disease can restore dynamics of striatal networks. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2120808119. [PMID: 35500112 PMCID: PMC9171607 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2120808119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is highly effective in alleviating movement disability in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, its therapeutic mechanism of action is unknown. The healthy striatum exhibits rich dynamics resulting from an interaction of beta, gamma, and theta oscillations. These rhythms are essential to selection and execution of motor programs, and their loss or exaggeration due to dopamine (DA) depletion in PD is a major source of behavioral deficits. Restoring the natural rhythms may then be instrumental in the therapeutic action of DBS. We develop a biophysical networked model of a BG pathway to study how abnormal beta oscillations can emerge throughout the BG in PD and how DBS can restore normal beta, gamma, and theta striatal rhythms. Our model incorporates STN projections to the striatum, long known but understudied, found to preferentially target fast-spiking interneurons (FSI). We find that DBS in STN can normalize striatal medium spiny neuron activity by recruiting FSI dynamics and restoring the inhibitory potency of FSIs observed in normal conditions. We also find that DBS allows the reexpression of gamma and theta rhythms, thought to be dependent on high DA levels and thus lost in PD, through cortical noise control. Our study highlights that DBS effects can go beyond regularizing BG output dynamics to restoring normal internal BG dynamics and the ability to regulate them. It also suggests how gamma and theta oscillations can be leveraged to supplement DBS treatment and enhance its effectiveness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elie M. Adam
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Emery N. Brown
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Nancy Kopell
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Malmierca MS. How the bat brain detects novel sounds (commentary on Wetekam et al., 2021). Eur J Neurosci 2022; 55:895-897. [PMID: 35075703 PMCID: PMC9304208 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Manuel S. Malmierca
- Cognitive and Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory (CANELAB), Institute of Neuroscience of Castilla y León (INCYL) University of Salamanca Salamanca Spain
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca University of Salamanca Salamanca Spain
- Department of Cell Biology and Pathology, School of Medicine University of Salamanca Salamanca Spain
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Risueno-Segovia C, Koç O, Champéroux P, Hage SR. Cardiovascular mechanisms underlying vocal behavior in freely moving macaque monkeys. iScience 2022; 25:103688. [PMID: 35036873 PMCID: PMC8749184 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Communication is a keystone of animal behavior. However, the physiological states underlying natural vocal signaling are still largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the correlation of affective vocal utterances with concomitant cardiorespiratory mechanisms. We telemetrically recorded electrocardiography, blood pressure, and physical activity in six freely moving and interacting cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Our results demonstrate that vocal onsets are strengthened during states of sympathetic activation, and are phase locked to a slower Mayer wave and a faster heart rate signal at ∼2.5 Hz. Vocalizations are coupled with a distinct peri-vocal physiological signature based on which we were able to predict the onset of vocal output using three machine learning classification models. These findings emphasize the role of cardiorespiratory mechanisms correlated with vocal onsets to optimize arousal levels and minimize energy expenditure during natural vocal production. Cardiovascular signals are measured telemetrically in freely moving macaques A distinct cardiovascular physiological signature is present before vocal onset Vocal onsets are phase locked to the Mayer wave and heart rate signals Vocal onsets prediction is performed using machine learning classification models
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Risueno-Segovia
- Neurobiology of Social Communication, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hearing Research Centre, University of Tübingen, Medical Center, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Strasse 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.,Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Street 25, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.,Graduate School of Neural and Behavioural Sciences-International Max Planck Research School, University of Tübingen, Österberg-Street 3, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Okan Koç
- Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Street 25, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Pascal Champéroux
- European Research Biology Center, ERBC, Chemin de Montifault, 18800 Baugy, France
| | - Steffen R Hage
- Neurobiology of Social Communication, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hearing Research Centre, University of Tübingen, Medical Center, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Strasse 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.,Werner Reichardt Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, University of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Street 25, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Rose MC, Styr B, Schmid TA, Elie JE, Yartsev MM. Cortical representation of group social communication in bats. Science 2021; 374:eaba9584. [PMID: 34672724 PMCID: PMC8775406 DOI: 10.1126/science.aba9584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Social interactions occur in group settings and are mediated by communication signals that are exchanged between individuals, often using vocalizations. The neural representation of group social communication remains largely unexplored. We conducted simultaneous wireless electrophysiological recordings from the frontal cortices of groups of Egyptian fruit bats engaged in both spontaneous and task-induced vocal interactions. We found that the activity of single neurons distinguished between vocalizations produced by self and by others, as well as among specific individuals. Coordinated neural activity among group members exhibited stable bidirectional interbrain correlation patterns specific to spontaneous communicative interactions. Tracking social and spatial arrangements within a group revealed a relationship between social preferences and intra- and interbrain activity patterns. Combined, these findings reveal a dedicated neural repertoire for group social communication within and across the brains of freely communicating groups of bats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maimon C. Rose
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Boaz Styr
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Tobias A. Schmid
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Julie E. Elie
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Michael M. Yartsev
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Oberto VJ, Boucly CJ, Gao H, Todorova R, Zugaro MB, Wiener SI. Distributed cell assemblies spanning prefrontal cortex and striatum. Curr Biol 2021; 32:1-13.e6. [PMID: 34699783 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Highly synchronous neuronal assembly activity is deemed essential for cognitive brain function. In theory, such synchrony could coordinate multiple brain areas performing complementary processes. However, cell assemblies have been observed only in single structures, typically cortical areas, and little is known about their synchrony with downstream subcortical structures, such as the striatum. Here, we demonstrate distributed cell assemblies activated at high synchrony (∼10 ms) spanning prefrontal cortex and striatum. In addition to including neurons at different brain hierarchical levels, surprisingly, they synchronized functionally distinct limbic and associative sub-regions. These assembly activations occurred when members shifted their firing phase relative to ongoing 4 Hz and theta rhythms, in association with high gamma oscillations. This suggests that these rhythms could mediate the emergence of cross-structural assemblies. To test for the role of assemblies in behavior, we trained the rats to perform a task requiring cognitive flexibility, alternating between two different rules in a T-maze. Overall, assembly activations were correlated with task-relevant parameters, including impending choice, reward, rule, or rule order. Moreover, these behavioral correlates were more robustly expressed by assemblies than by their individual member neurons. Finally, to verify whether assemblies can be endogenously generated, we found that they were indeed spontaneously reactivated during sleep and quiet immobility. Thus, cell assemblies are a more general coding mechanism than previously envisioned, linking distributed neocortical and subcortical areas at high synchrony.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Virginie J Oberto
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), College de France, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Céline J Boucly
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), College de France, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - HongYing Gao
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), College de France, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Ralitsa Todorova
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), College de France, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Michaël B Zugaro
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), College de France, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Sidney I Wiener
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), College de France, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Taub M, Yovel Y. Adaptive learning and recall of motor-sensory sequences in adult echolocating bats. BMC Biol 2021; 19:164. [PMID: 34412628 PMCID: PMC8377959 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01099-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Learning to adapt to changes in the environment is highly beneficial. This is especially true for echolocating bats that forage in diverse environments, moving between open spaces to highly complex ones. Bats are known for their ability to rapidly adjust their sensing according to auditory information gathered from the environment within milliseconds but can they also benefit from longer adaptive processes? In this study, we examined adult bats' ability to slowly adapt their sensing strategy to a new type of environment they have never experienced for such long durations, and to then maintain this learned echolocation strategy over time. RESULTS We show that over a period of weeks, Pipistrellus kuhlii bats gradually adapt their pre-takeoff echolocation sequence when moved to a constantly cluttered environment. After adopting this improved strategy, the bats retained an ability to instantaneously use it when placed back in a similarly cluttered environment, even after spending many months in a significantly less cluttered environment. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate long-term adaptive flexibility in sensory acquisition in adult animals. Our study also gives further insight into the importance of sensory planning in the initiation of a precise sensorimotor behavior such as approaching for landing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mor Taub
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Yossi Yovel
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, 6997801, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Beetz MJ, Kössl M, Hechavarría JC. The frugivorous bat Carollia perspicillata dynamically changes echolocation parameters in response to acoustic playback. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:jeb.234245. [PMID: 33568443 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.234245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Animals extract behaviorally relevant signals from 'noisy' environments. Echolocation behavior provides a rich system testbed for investigating signal extraction. When echolocating in acoustically enriched environments, bats show many adaptations that are believed to facilitate signal extraction. Most studies to date focused on describing adaptations in insectivorous bats while frugivorous bats have rarely been tested. Here, we characterize how the frugivorous bat Carollia perspicillata adapts its echolocation behavior in response to acoustic playback. Since bats not only adapt their echolocation calls in response to acoustic interference but also with respect to target distances, we swung bats on a pendulum to control for distance-dependent call changes. Forward swings evoked consistent echolocation behavior similar to approach flights. By comparing the echolocation behavior recorded in the presence and absence of acoustic playback, we could precisely define the influence of the acoustic context on the bats' vocal behavior. Our results show that C. perspicillata decrease the terminal peak frequencies of their calls when echolocating in the presence of acoustic playback. When considering the results at an individual level, it became clear that each bat dynamically adjusts different echolocation parameters across and even within experimental days. Utilizing such dynamics, bats create unique echolocation streams that could facilitate signal extraction in noisy environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Jerome Beetz
- Institute for Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Manfred Kössl
- Institute for Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Julio C Hechavarría
- Institute for Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
The second harmonic neurons in auditory midbrain of Hipposideros pratti are more tolerant to background white noise. Hear Res 2020; 400:108142. [PMID: 33310564 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2020.108142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Although acoustic communication is inevitably influenced by noise, behaviorally relevant sounds are perceived reliably. The noise-tolerant and -invariant responses of auditory neurons are thought to be the underlying mechanism. So, it is reasonable to speculate that neurons with best frequency tuned to behaviorally relevant sounds will play important role in noise-tolerant perception. Echolocating bats live in groups and emit multiple harmonic signals and analyze the returning echoes to extract information about the target features, making them prone to deal with noise in their natural habitat. The echolocation signal of Hipposideros pratti usually contains 3-4 harmonics (H1H4), the second harmonic has the highest amplitude and is thought to play an essential role during echolocation behavior. Therefore, it is reasonable to propose that neurons tuned to the H2, named the H2 neurons, can be more noise-tolerant to background noise. Taking advantage of bat's stereotypical echolocation signal and single-cell recording, our present study showed that the minimal threshold increases (12.2 dB) of H2 neurons in the auditory midbrain were comparable to increase in bat's call intensity (14.2 dB) observed in 70 dB SPL white noise condition, indicating that the H2 neurons could work as background noise monitor. The H2 neurons had higher minimal thresholds and sharper frequency tuning, which enabled them to be more tolerant to background noise. Furthermore, the H2 neurons had consistent best amplitude spikes and sharper intensity tuning in background white noise condition than in silence. Taken together, these results suggest that the H2 neurons might account for noise-tolerant perception of behaviorally relevant sounds.
Collapse
|
15
|
García-Rosales F, López-Jury L, González-Palomares E, Cabral-Calderín Y, Kössl M, Hechavarria JC. Phase-amplitude coupling profiles differ in frontal and auditory cortices of bats. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 55:3483-3501. [PMID: 32979875 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Neural oscillations are at the core of important computations in the mammalian brain. Interactions between oscillatory activities in different frequency bands, such as delta (1-4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz) or gamma (>30 Hz), are a powerful mechanism for binding fundamentally distinct spatiotemporal scales of neural processing. Phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) is one such plausible and well-described interaction, but much is yet to be uncovered regarding how PAC dynamics contribute to sensory representations. In particular, although PAC appears to have a major role in audition, the characteristics of coupling profiles in sensory and integration (i.e. frontal) cortical areas remain obscure. Here, we address this question by studying PAC dynamics in the frontal-auditory field (FAF; an auditory area in the bat frontal cortex) and the auditory cortex (AC) of the bat Carollia perspicillata. By means of simultaneous electrophysiological recordings in frontal and auditory cortices examining local-field potentials (LFPs), we show that the amplitude of gamma-band activity couples with the phase of low-frequency LFPs in both structures. Our results demonstrate that the coupling in FAF occurs most prominently in delta/high-gamma frequencies (1-4/75-100 Hz), whereas in the AC the coupling is strongest in the delta-theta/low-gamma (2-8/25-55 Hz) range. We argue that distinct PAC profiles may represent different mechanisms for neuronal processing in frontal and auditory cortices, and might complement oscillatory interactions for sensory processing in the frontal-auditory cortex network.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Luciana López-Jury
- Institut für Zellbiologie und Neurowissenschaft, Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt/M, Germany
| | | | - Yuranny Cabral-Calderín
- Research Group Neural and Environmental Rhythms, Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics, Frankfurt/M, Germany
| | - Manfred Kössl
- Institut für Zellbiologie und Neurowissenschaft, Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt/M, Germany
| | - Julio C Hechavarria
- Institut für Zellbiologie und Neurowissenschaft, Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt/M, Germany
| |
Collapse
|