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Tabas A, von Kriegstein K. Multiple Concurrent Predictions Inform Prediction Error in the Human Auditory Pathway. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e2219222023. [PMID: 37949655 PMCID: PMC10851690 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2219-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The key assumption of the predictive coding framework is that internal representations are used to generate predictions on how the sensory input will look like in the immediate future. These predictions are tested against the actual input by the so-called prediction error units, which encode the residuals of the predictions. What happens to prediction errors, however, if predictions drawn by different stages of the sensory hierarchy contradict each other? To answer this question, we conducted two fMRI experiments while female and male human participants listened to sequences of sounds: pure tones in the first experiment and frequency-modulated sweeps in the second experiment. In both experiments, we used repetition to induce predictions based on stimulus statistics (stats-informed predictions) and abstract rules disclosed in the task instructions to induce an orthogonal set of (task-informed) predictions. We tested three alternative scenarios: neural responses in the auditory sensory pathway encode prediction error with respect to (1) the stats-informed predictions, (2) the task-informed predictions, or (3) a combination of both. Results showed that neural populations in all recorded regions (bilateral inferior colliculus, medial geniculate body, and primary and secondary auditory cortices) encode prediction error with respect to a combination of the two orthogonal sets of predictions. The findings suggest that predictive coding exploits the non-linear architecture of the auditory pathway for the transmission of predictions. Such non-linear transmission of predictions might be crucial for the predictive coding of complex auditory signals like speech.Significance Statement Sensory systems exploit our subjective expectations to make sense of an overwhelming influx of sensory signals. It is still unclear how expectations at each stage of the processing pipeline are used to predict the representations at the other stages. The current view is that this transmission is hierarchical and linear. Here we measured fMRI responses in auditory cortex, sensory thalamus, and midbrain while we induced two sets of mutually inconsistent expectations on the sensory input, each putatively encoded at a different stage. We show that responses at all stages are concurrently shaped by both sets of expectations. The results challenge the hypothesis that expectations are transmitted linearly and provide for a normative explanation of the non-linear physiology of the corticofugal sensory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Tabas
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Katharina von Kriegstein
- Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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2
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He G, Li Y, Deng H, Zuo H. Advances in the study of cholinergic circuits in the central nervous system. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2023; 10:2179-2191. [PMID: 37846148 PMCID: PMC10723250 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Further understanding of the function and regulatory mechanism of cholinergic neural circuits and related neurodegenerative diseases. METHODS This review summarized the research progress of the central cholinergic nervous system, especially for the cholinergic circuit of the medial septal nucleus-hippocampus, vertical branch of diagonal band-hippocampus, basal nucleus of Meynert-cerebral cortex cholinergic loop, amygdala, pedunculopontine nucleus, and striatum-related cholinergic loops. RESULTS The extensive and complex fiber projection of cholinergic neurons form the cholinergic neural circuits, which regulate several nuclei in the brain through neurotransmission and participate in learning and memory, attention, emotion, movement, etc. The loss of cholinergic neurotransmitters, the reduction, loss, and degeneration of cholinergic neurons or abnormal theta oscillations and cholinergic neural circuits can induce cognitive disorders such as AD, PD, PDD, and DLB. INTERPRETATION The projection and function of cholinergic fibers in some nuclei and the precise regulatory mechanisms of cholinergic neural circuits in the brain remain unclear. Further investigation of cholinergic fiber projections in various brain regions and the underlying mechanisms of the neural circuits are expected to open up new avenues for the prevention and treatment of senile neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganghua He
- Beijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijingChina
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan UniversityFoshanChina
| | - Yang Li
- Beijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Hua Deng
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan UniversityFoshanChina
| | - Hongyan Zuo
- Beijing Institute of Radiation MedicineBeijingChina
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3
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Martínez-Vilavella G, Pujol J, Blanco-Hinojo L, Deus J, Rivas I, Persavento C, Sunyer J, Foraster M. The effects of exposure to road traffic noise at school on central auditory pathway functional connectivity. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 226:115574. [PMID: 36841520 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
As the world becomes more urbanized, more people become exposed to traffic and the risks associated with a higher exposure to road traffic noise increase. Excessive exposure to environmental noise could potentially interfere with functional maturation of the auditory brain in developing individuals. The aim of the present study was to assess the association between exposure to annual average road traffic noise (LAeq) in schools and functional connectivity of key elements of the central auditory pathway in schoolchildren. A total of 229 children from 34 representative schools in the city of Barcelona with ages between 8 and 12 years (49.2% girls) were evaluated. LAeq was obtained as the mean of 2-consecutive day measurements inside classrooms before lessons started following standard procedures to obtain an indicator of long-term road traffic noise levels. A region-of-interest functional connectivity Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) approach was adopted. Functional connectivity maps were generated for the inferior colliculus, medial geniculate body of the thalamus and primary auditory cortex as key levels of the central auditory pathway. Road traffic noise in schools was significantly associated with stronger connectivity between the inferior colliculus and a bilateral thalamic region adjacent to the medial geniculate body, and with stronger connectivity between the medial geniculate body and a bilateral brainstem region adjacent to the inferior colliculus. Such a functional connectivity strengthening effect did not extend to the cerebral cortex. The anatomy of the association implicating subcortical relays suggests that prolonged road traffic noise exposure in developing individuals may accelerate maturation in the basic elements of the auditory pathway. Future research is warranted to establish whether such a faster maturation in early pathway levels may ultimately reduce the developing potential in the whole auditory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard Martínez-Vilavella
- MRI Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jesus Pujol
- MRI Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Salud Mental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Blanco-Hinojo
- MRI Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Salud Mental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain; IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Deus
- MRI Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ioar Rivas
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBEREsp), Spain
| | - Cecilia Persavento
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBEREsp), Spain
| | - Jordi Sunyer
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBEREsp), Spain; IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Foraster
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBEREsp), Spain; PHAGEX Research Group, Blanquerna School of Health Science, Universitat Ramon Llull (URL), Barcelona, Spain.
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4
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Leong ATL, Wong EC, Wang X, Wu EX. Hippocampus Modulates Vocalizations Responses at Early Auditory Centers. Neuroimage 2023; 270:119943. [PMID: 36828157 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.119943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite its prominence in learning and memory, hippocampal influence in early auditory processing centers remains unknown. Here, we examined how hippocampal activity modulates sound-evoked responses in the auditory midbrain and thalamus using optogenetics and functional MRI (fMRI) in rodents. Ventral hippocampus (vHP) excitatory neuron stimulation at 5 Hz evoked robust hippocampal activity that propagates to the primary auditory cortex. We then tested 5 Hz vHP stimulation paired with either natural vocalizations or artificial/noise acoustic stimuli. vHP stimulation enhanced auditory responses to vocalizations (with a negative or positive valence) in the inferior colliculus, medial geniculate body, and auditory cortex, but not to their temporally reversed counterparts (artificial sounds) or broadband noise. Meanwhile, pharmacological vHP inactivation diminished response selectivity to vocalizations. These results directly reveal the large-scale hippocampal participation in natural sound processing at early centers of the ascending auditory pathway. They expand our present understanding of hippocampus in global auditory networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex T L Leong
- Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Signal Processing, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Eddie C Wong
- Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Signal Processing, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xunda Wang
- Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Signal Processing, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ed X Wu
- Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Signal Processing, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China; School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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5
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Meng Q, Schneider KA. A specialized channel for encoding auditory transients in the magnocellular division of the human medial geniculate nucleus. Neuroreport 2022; 33:663-668. [PMID: 36126264 PMCID: PMC9504316 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000001830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
We test the hypothesis that there exists a generalized magnocellular system in the brain optimized for temporal processing. In the visual system, it is well known that the magnocellular layers in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) are strongly activated by transients and quickly habituate. However, little is known about the perhaps analogous magnocellular division of the medial geniculate nucleus (MGN), the auditory relay in the thalamus. We measured the functional responses of the MGN in 11 subjects who passively listened to sustained and transient nonlinguistic sounds, using functional MRI. We observed that voxels in the ventromedial portion of the MGN, corresponding to the magnocellular division, exhibited a robust preference to transient sounds, consistently across subjects, whereas the remainder of the MGN did not discriminate between sustained and transient sounds. We conclude that the magnocellular neurons in the MGN parallel the magnocellular neurons in its visual counterpart, LGN, and constitute an information stream specialized for encoding auditory dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianli Meng
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware; Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Keith A. Schneider
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware; Newark, Delaware, USA
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Sitek KR, Calabrese E, Johnson GA, Ghosh SS, Chandrasekaran B. Structural Connectivity of Human Inferior Colliculus Subdivisions Using in vivo and post mortem Diffusion MRI Tractography. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:751595. [PMID: 35392412 PMCID: PMC8981148 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.751595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Inferior colliculus (IC) is an obligatory station along the ascending auditory pathway that also has a high degree of top-down convergence via efferent pathways, making it a major computational hub. Animal models have attributed critical roles for the IC in in mediating auditory plasticity, egocentric selection, and noise exclusion. IC contains multiple functionally distinct subdivisions. These include a central nucleus that predominantly receives ascending inputs and external and dorsal nuclei that receive more heterogeneous inputs, including descending and multisensory connections. Subdivisions of human IC have been challenging to identify and quantify using standard brain imaging techniques such as MRI, and the connectivity of each of these subnuclei has not been identified in the human brain. In this study, we estimated the connectivity of human IC subdivisions with diffusion MRI (dMRI) tractography, using both anatomical-based seed analysis as well as unsupervised k-means clustering. We demonstrate sensitivity of tractography to overall IC connections in both high resolution post mortem and in vivo datasets. k-Means clustering of the IC streamlines in both the post mortem and in vivo datasets generally segregated streamlines based on their terminus beyond IC, such as brainstem, thalamus, or contralateral IC. Using fine-grained anatomical segmentations of the major IC subdivisions, the post mortem dataset exhibited unique connectivity patterns from each subdivision, including commissural connections through dorsal IC and lateral lemniscal connections to central and external IC. The subdivisions were less distinct in the context of in vivo connectivity, although lateral lemniscal connections were again highest to central and external IC. Overall, the unsupervised and anatomically driven methods provide converging evidence for distinct connectivity profiles for each of the IC subdivisions in both post mortem and in vivo datasets, suggesting that dMRI tractography with high quality data is sensitive to neural pathways involved in auditory processing as well as top-down control of incoming auditory information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin R. Sitek
- SoundBrain Lab, Brain and Auditory Sciences Research Initiative, Department of Communication and Science Disorders, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- *Correspondence: Kevin R. Sitek,
| | - Evan Calabrese
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - G. Allan Johnson
- Center for In Vivo Microscopy, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Satrajit S. Ghosh
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Bharath Chandrasekaran
- SoundBrain Lab, Brain and Auditory Sciences Research Initiative, Department of Communication and Science Disorders, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Bharath Chandrasekaran,
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7
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Kiwitz K, Brandstetter A, Schiffer C, Bludau S, Mohlberg H, Omidyeganeh M, Massicotte P, Amunts K. Cytoarchitectonic Maps of the Human Metathalamus in 3D Space. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:837485. [PMID: 35350721 PMCID: PMC8957853 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.837485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The human metathalamus plays an important role in processing visual and auditory information. Understanding its layers and subdivisions is important to gain insights in its function as a subcortical relay station and involvement in various pathologies. Yet, detailed histological references of the microanatomy in 3D space are still missing. We therefore aim at providing cytoarchitectonic maps of the medial geniculate body (MGB) and its subdivisions in the BigBrain – a high-resolution 3D-reconstructed histological model of the human brain, as well as probabilistic cytoarchitectonic maps of the MGB and lateral geniculate body (LGB). Therefore, histological sections of ten postmortem brains were studied. Three MGB subdivisions (MGBv, MGBd, MGBm) were identified on every 5th BigBrain section, and a deep-learning based tool was applied to map them on every remaining section. The maps were 3D-reconstructed to show the shape and extent of the MGB and its subdivisions with cellular precision. The LGB and MGB were additionally identified in nine other postmortem brains. Probabilistic cytoarchitectonic maps in the MNI “Colin27” and MNI ICBM152 reference spaces were computed which reveal an overall low interindividual variability in topography and extent. The probabilistic maps were included into the Julich-Brain atlas, and are freely available. They can be linked to other 3D data of human brain organization and serve as an anatomical reference for diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic neuroimaging studies of healthy brains and patients. Furthermore, the high-resolution MGB BigBrain maps provide a basis for data integration, brain modeling and simulation to bridge the larger scale involvement of thalamocortical and local subcortical circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Kiwitz
- Cécile and Oskar Vogt Institute of Brain Research, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Max Planck School of Cognition, Stephanstraße 1a, Leipzig, Germany
- *Correspondence: Kai Kiwitz,
| | - Andrea Brandstetter
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Christian Schiffer
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Helmholtz AI, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Bludau
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Hartmut Mohlberg
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Mona Omidyeganeh
- McGill Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, McConnell Brain Imaging Center, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Philippe Massicotte
- McGill Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, McConnell Brain Imaging Center, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Katrin Amunts
- Cécile and Oskar Vogt Institute of Brain Research, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Max Planck School of Cognition, Stephanstraße 1a, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
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8
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Buchsbaum MS, Mitelman SA, Christian BT, Merrill BM, Buchsbaum BR, Mitelman D, Mukherjee J, Lehrer DS. Four-modality imaging of unmedicated subjects with schizophrenia: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose and 18F-fallypride PET, diffusion tensor imaging, and MRI. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2022; 320:111428. [PMID: 34954446 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2021.111428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Diminished prefrontal function, dopaminergic abnormalities in the striatum and thalamus, reductions in white matter integrity and frontotemporal gray matter deficits are the most replicated findings in schizophrenia. We used four imaging modalities (18F-fluorodeoxyglucose and 18F-fallypride PET, diffusion tensor imaging, structural MRI) in 19 healthy and 25 schizophrenia subjects to assess the relationship between functional (dopamine D2/D3 receptor binding potential, glucose metabolic rate) and structural (fractional anisotropy, MRI) correlates of schizophrenia and their additive diagnostic prediction potential. Multivariate ANOVA was used to compare structural and functional image sets for identification of schizophrenia. Integration of data from all four modalities yielded better predictive power than less inclusive combinations, specifically in the thalamus, left dorsolateral prefrontal and temporal regions. Among the modalities, fractional anisotropy showed highest discrimination in white matter whereas 18F-fallypride binding showed highest discrimination in gray matter. Structural and functional modalities displayed comparable discriminative power but different topography, with higher sensitivity of structural modalities in the left prefrontal region. Combination of functional and structural imaging modalities with inclusion of both gray and white matter appears most effective in diagnostic discrimination. The highest sensitivity of 18F-fallypride PET to gray matter changes in schizophrenia supports the primacy of dopaminergic abnormalities in its pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monte S Buchsbaum
- Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology, University of California, Irvine and San Diego, 11388 Sorrento Valley Road, San Diego, CA 92121, United States
| | - Serge A Mitelman
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Elmhurst Hospital Center, 79-01 Broadway, Elmhurst, NY 11373, United States.
| | - Bradley T Christian
- Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Room T231, Madison, WI 53705, United States
| | - Brian M Merrill
- Department of Psychiatry, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, East Medical Plaza, Dayton, OH 45408, United States
| | - Bradley R Buchsbaum
- The Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 3560 Bathurst St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M6A 2E1
| | - Danielle Mitelman
- The Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Long Island University, 75 Dekalb Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
| | - Jogeshwar Mukherjee
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Preclinical Imaging, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Douglas S Lehrer
- Department of Psychiatry, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, East Medical Plaza, Dayton, OH 45408, United States
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9
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Moerel M, Yacoub E, Gulban OF, Lage-Castellanos A, De Martino F. Using high spatial resolution fMRI to understand representation in the auditory network. Prog Neurobiol 2021; 207:101887. [PMID: 32745500 PMCID: PMC7854960 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Following rapid methodological advances, ultra-high field (UHF) functional and anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been repeatedly and successfully used for the investigation of the human auditory system in recent years. Here, we review this work and argue that UHF MRI is uniquely suited to shed light on how sounds are represented throughout the network of auditory brain regions. That is, the provided gain in spatial resolution at UHF can be used to study the functional role of the small subcortical auditory processing stages and details of cortical processing. Further, by combining high spatial resolution with the versatility of MRI contrasts, UHF MRI has the potential to localize the primary auditory cortex in individual hemispheres. This is a prerequisite to study how sound representation in higher-level auditory cortex evolves from that in early (primary) auditory cortex. Finally, the access to independent signals across auditory cortical depths, as afforded by UHF, may reveal the computations that underlie the emergence of an abstract, categorical sound representation based on low-level acoustic feature processing. Efforts on these research topics are underway. Here we discuss promises as well as challenges that come with studying these research questions using UHF MRI, and provide a future outlook.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Moerel
- Maastricht Centre for Systems Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Maastricht Brain Imaging Center (MBIC), Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| | - Essa Yacoub
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
| | - Omer Faruk Gulban
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Maastricht Brain Imaging Center (MBIC), Maastricht, the Netherlands; Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA; Brain Innovation B.V., Maastricht, the Netherlands.
| | - Agustin Lage-Castellanos
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Maastricht Brain Imaging Center (MBIC), Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of NeuroInformatics, Cuban Center for Neuroscience, Cuba.
| | - Federico De Martino
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Maastricht Brain Imaging Center (MBIC), Maastricht, the Netherlands; Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
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10
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Kommajosyula SP, Bartlett EL, Cai R, Ling L, Caspary DM. Corticothalamic projections deliver enhanced responses to medial geniculate body as a function of the temporal reliability of the stimulus. J Physiol 2021; 599:5465-5484. [PMID: 34783016 PMCID: PMC10630908 DOI: 10.1113/jp282321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Ageing and challenging signal-in-noise conditions are known to engage the use of cortical resources to help maintain speech understanding. Extensive corticothalamic projections are thought to provide attentional, mnemonic and cognitive-related inputs in support of sensory inferior colliculus (IC) inputs to the medial geniculate body (MGB). Here we show that a decrease in modulation depth, a temporally less distinct periodic acoustic signal, leads to a jittered ascending temporal code, changing MGB unit responses from adapting responses to responses showing repetition enhancement, posited to aid identification of important communication and environmental sounds. Young-adult male Fischer Brown Norway rats, injected with the inhibitory opsin archaerhodopsin T (ArchT) into the primary auditory cortex (A1), were subsequently studied using optetrodes to record single-units in MGB. Decreasing the modulation depth of acoustic stimuli significantly increased repetition enhancement. Repetition enhancement was blocked by optical inactivation of corticothalamic terminals in MGB. These data support a role for corticothalamic projections in repetition enhancement, implying that predictive anticipation could be used to improve neural representation of weakly modulated sounds. KEY POINTS: In response to a less temporally distinct repeating sound with low modulation depth, medial geniculate body (MGB) single units show a switch from adaptation towards repetition enhancement. Repetition enhancement was reversed by blockade of MGB inputs from the auditory cortex. Collectively, these data argue that diminished acoustic temporal cues such as weak modulation engage cortical processes to enhance coding of those cues in auditory thalamus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srinivasa P Kommajosyula
- Department of Pharmacology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA
| | - Edward L Bartlett
- Department of Biological Sciences and the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Rui Cai
- Department of Pharmacology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA
| | - Lynne Ling
- Department of Pharmacology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA
| | - Donald M Caspary
- Department of Pharmacology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, USA
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Fujimoto H, Notsu E, Yamamoto R, Ono M, Hioki H, Takahashi M, Ito T. Kv4.2-Positive Domains on Dendrites in the Mouse Medial Geniculate Body Receive Ascending Excitatory and Inhibitory Inputs Preferentially From the Inferior Colliculus. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:740378. [PMID: 34658777 PMCID: PMC8511456 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.740378] [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: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The medial geniculate body (MGB) is the thalamic center of the auditory lemniscal pathway. The ventral division of MGB (MGV) receives excitatory and inhibitory inputs from the inferior colliculus (IC). MGV is involved in auditory attention by processing descending excitatory and inhibitory inputs from the auditory cortex (AC) and reticular thalamic nucleus (RTN), respectively. However, detailed mechanisms of the integration of different inputs in a single MGV neuron remain unclear. Kv4.2 is one of the isoforms of the Shal-related subfamily of potassium voltage-gated channels that are expressed in MGB. Since potassium channel is important for shaping synaptic current and spike waveforms, subcellular distribution of Kv4.2 is likely important for integration of various inputs. Here, we aimed to examine the detailed distribution of Kv4.2, in MGV neurons to understand its specific role in auditory attention. We found that Kv4.2 mRNA was expressed in most MGV neurons. At the protein level, Kv4.2-immunopositive patches were sparsely distributed in both the dendrites and the soma of neurons. The postsynaptic distribution of Kv4.2 protein was confirmed using electron microscopy (EM). The frequency of contact with Kv4.2-immunopositive puncta was higher in vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGluT2)-positive excitatory axon terminals, which are supposed to be extending from the IC, than in VGluT1-immunopositive terminals, which are expected to be originating from the AC. VGluT2-immunopositive terminals were significantly larger than VGluT1-immunopositive terminals. Furthermore, EM showed that the terminals forming asymmetric synapses with Kv4.2-immunopositive MGV dendritic domains were significantly larger than those forming synapses with Kv4.2-negative MGV dendritic domains. In inhibitory axons either from the IC or from the RTN, the frequency of terminals that were in contact with Kv4.2-positive puncta was higher in IC than in RTN. In summary, our study demonstrated that the Kv4.2-immunopositive domains of the MGV dendrites received excitatory and inhibitory ascending auditory inputs preferentially from the IC, and not from the RTN or cortex. Our findings imply that time course of synaptic current and spike waveforms elicited by IC inputs is modified in the Kv4.2 domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisataka Fujimoto
- Department of Anatomy, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan.,Department of Ophthalmology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan
| | - Eiji Notsu
- Department of Anatomy, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan
| | - Ryo Yamamoto
- Department of Physiology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan
| | - Munenori Ono
- Department of Physiology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Hioki
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Megumu Takahashi
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tetsufumi Ito
- Research and Education Program for Life Science, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.,Department of Anatomy, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan.,Department of Systems Function and Morphology, Graduate School of Innovative Life Science, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
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12
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Molecular Imaging of the Cholinergic System in Alzheimer and Lewy Body Dementias: Expanding Views. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2021; 21:52. [PMID: 34545424 DOI: 10.1007/s11910-021-01140-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Brain cholinergic denervation is a major feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). We reviewed the topography assessed by a cholinergic molecular imaging study in these two major types of dementia. A small meta-analysis directly comparing vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) PET scans of AD vs. DLB patients is presented. RECENT FINDINGS VAChT PET studies showed evidence of extensive cortical cholinergic denervation in both forms of dementia, while multiple subcortical structures were also in DLB. Novel analysis revealed evidence of metathalamic denervation in AD, and epithalamus, premotor/sensorimotor cortical, and striatal losses in DLB. Topographically distinct cortical and subcortical cholinergic lesions can distinguish AD and DLB, and new structures have been highlighted here. Differential vulnerability of specific cholinergic projections is likely associated with specific clinical features of these disorders. Improved understanding of the mechanisms and roles of cholinergic neurotransmission in regions with cholinergic deficits may lead to symptomatic therapies.
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13
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Evaluation of the whole auditory pathway using high-resolution and functional MRI at 7T parallel-transmit. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254378. [PMID: 34492032 PMCID: PMC8423236 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The aim of the present study is to show a MR procedure for the evaluation of simultaneous left and right auditory functions with functional MRI, and high-resolution acquisition of anatomical auditory pathway using parallel-transmit (pTx) methods at 7T. Methods The time-efficient MR acquisition included two steps: RF weights were optimized for the regions-of-interest and high-resolution MR images of the inner-ear were acquired for the first 30 min (400 μm-iso resolution) followed by functional MRI acquisitions along the whole auditory pathway during the next 20 minutes. Data was processed with a linear cross-correlation analysis to define frequency preferences for each voxel in the auditory relays. Results Tonotopic maps revealed ordered bilateral frequency gradients in the auditory relays whereas at the level of the cochlear nuclei and superior olivary complexes the frequency gradients were less evident. A 21% increase in transmit-field efficiency was achieved over the left/right inner-ear regions and thus its main structures were clearly discernible using the pTx methods, compared to a single transmit RF coil. Conclusion Using 7T pTx allows a fast (less than 60 min in total) and qualitative evaluation of the simultaneous left and right auditory response along the entire auditory pathway, together with high-resolution anatomical images of the inner-ear. This could be further used for patient examination at 7T.
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14
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Antunes FM, Malmierca MS. Corticothalamic Pathways in Auditory Processing: Recent Advances and Insights From Other Sensory Systems. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:721186. [PMID: 34489648 PMCID: PMC8418311 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.721186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The corticothalamic (CT) pathways emanate from either Layer 5 (L5) or 6 (L6) of the neocortex and largely outnumber the ascending, thalamocortical pathways. The CT pathways provide the anatomical foundations for an intricate, bidirectional communication between thalamus and cortex. They act as dynamic circuits of information transfer with the ability to modulate or even drive the response properties of target neurons at each synaptic node of the circuit. L6 CT feedback pathways enable the cortex to shape the nature of its driving inputs, by directly modulating the sensory message arriving at the thalamus. L5 CT pathways can drive the postsynaptic neurons and initiate a transthalamic corticocortical circuit by which cortical areas communicate with each other. For this reason, L5 CT pathways place the thalamus at the heart of information transfer through the cortical hierarchy. Recent evidence goes even further to suggest that the thalamus via CT pathways regulates functional connectivity within and across cortical regions, and might be engaged in cognition, behavior, and perceptual inference. As descending pathways that enable reciprocal and context-dependent communication between thalamus and cortex, we venture that CT projections are particularly interesting in the context of hierarchical perceptual inference formulations such as those contemplated in predictive processing schemes, which so far heavily rely on cortical implementations. We discuss recent proposals suggesting that the thalamus, and particularly higher order thalamus via transthalamic pathways, could coordinate and contextualize hierarchical inference in cortical hierarchies. We will explore these ideas with a focus on the auditory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora M. Antunes
- 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
| | - 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
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15
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Homma NY, Bajo VM. Lemniscal Corticothalamic Feedback in Auditory Scene Analysis. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:723893. [PMID: 34489635 PMCID: PMC8417129 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.723893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Sound information is transmitted from the ear to central auditory stations of the brain via several nuclei. In addition to these ascending pathways there exist descending projections that can influence the information processing at each of these nuclei. A major descending pathway in the auditory system is the feedback projection from layer VI of the primary auditory cortex (A1) to the ventral division of medial geniculate body (MGBv) in the thalamus. The corticothalamic axons have small glutamatergic terminals that can modulate thalamic processing and thalamocortical information transmission. Corticothalamic neurons also provide input to GABAergic neurons of the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) that receives collaterals from the ascending thalamic axons. The balance of corticothalamic and TRN inputs has been shown to refine frequency tuning, firing patterns, and gating of MGBv neurons. Therefore, the thalamus is not merely a relay stage in the chain of auditory nuclei but does participate in complex aspects of sound processing that include top-down modulations. In this review, we aim (i) to examine how lemniscal corticothalamic feedback modulates responses in MGBv neurons, and (ii) to explore how the feedback contributes to auditory scene analysis, particularly on frequency and harmonic perception. Finally, we will discuss potential implications of the role of corticothalamic feedback in music and speech perception, where precise spectral and temporal processing is essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natsumi Y. Homma
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Coleman Memorial Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Victoria M. Bajo
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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16
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Mihai PG, Tschentscher N, von Kriegstein K. Modulation of the Primary Auditory Thalamus When Recognizing Speech with Background Noise. J Neurosci 2021; 41:7136-7147. [PMID: 34244362 PMCID: PMC8372015 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2902-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Recognizing speech in background noise is a strenuous daily activity, yet most humans can master it. An explanation of how the human brain deals with such sensory uncertainty during speech recognition is to-date missing. Previous work has shown that recognition of speech without background noise involves modulation of the auditory thalamus (medial geniculate body; MGB): there are higher responses in left MGB for speech recognition tasks that require tracking of fast-varying stimulus properties in contrast to relatively constant stimulus properties (e.g., speaker identity tasks) despite the same stimulus input. Here, we tested the hypotheses that (1) this task-dependent modulation for speech recognition increases in parallel with the sensory uncertainty in the speech signal, i.e., the amount of background noise; and that (2) this increase is present in the ventral MGB, which corresponds to the primary sensory part of the auditory thalamus. In accordance with our hypothesis, we show, by using ultra-high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in male and female human participants, that the task-dependent modulation of the left ventral MGB (vMGB) for speech is particularly strong when recognizing speech in noisy listening conditions in contrast to situations where the speech signal is clear. The results imply that speech in noise recognition is supported by modifications at the level of the subcortical sensory pathway providing driving input to the auditory cortex.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Speech recognition in noisy environments is a challenging everyday task. One reason why humans can master this task is the recruitment of additional cognitive resources as reflected in recruitment of non-language cerebral cortex areas. Here, we show that also modulation in the primary sensory pathway is specifically involved in speech in noise recognition. We found that the left primary sensory thalamus (ventral medial geniculate body; vMGB) is more involved when recognizing speech signals as opposed to a control task (speaker identity recognition) when heard in background noise versus when the noise was absent. This finding implies that the brain optimizes sensory processing in subcortical sensory pathway structures in a task-specific manner to deal with speech recognition in noisy environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Glad Mihai
- Chair of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden 01187, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Nadja Tschentscher
- Research Unit Biological Psychology, Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich 80802, Germany
| | - Katharina von Kriegstein
- Chair of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden 01187, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig 04103, Germany
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17
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Brinkmann P, Kotz SA, Smit JV, Janssen MLF, Schwartze M. Auditory thalamus dysfunction and pathophysiology in tinnitus: a predictive network hypothesis. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 226:1659-1676. [PMID: 33934235 PMCID: PMC8203542 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02284-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Tinnitus is the perception of a 'ringing' sound without an acoustic source. It is generally accepted that tinnitus develops after peripheral hearing loss and is associated with altered auditory processing. The thalamus is a crucial relay in the underlying pathways that actively shapes processing of auditory signals before the respective information reaches the cerebral cortex. Here, we review animal and human evidence to define thalamic function in tinnitus. Overall increased spontaneous firing patterns and altered coherence between the thalamic medial geniculate body (MGB) and auditory cortices is observed in animal models of tinnitus. It is likely that the functional connectivity between the MGB and primary and secondary auditory cortices is reduced in humans. Conversely, there are indications for increased connectivity between the MGB and several areas in the cingulate cortex and posterior cerebellar regions, as well as variability in connectivity between the MGB and frontal areas regarding laterality and orientation in the inferior, medial and superior frontal gyrus. We suggest that these changes affect adaptive sensory gating of temporal and spectral sound features along the auditory pathway, reflecting dysfunction in an extensive thalamo-cortical network implicated in predictive temporal adaptation to the auditory environment. Modulation of temporal characteristics of input signals might hence factor into a thalamo-cortical dysrhythmia profile of tinnitus, but could ultimately also establish new directions for treatment options for persons with tinnitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Brinkmann
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, University of Maastricht, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Sonja A Kotz
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, University of Maastricht, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jasper V Smit
- Department of Ear Nose and Throat/Head and Neck Surgery, Zuyderland Medical Center, Sittard/Heerlen, the Netherlands
| | - Marcus L F Janssen
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Michael Schwartze
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, University of Maastricht, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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18
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Tabas A, Mihai G, Kiebel S, Trampel R, von Kriegstein K. Abstract rules drive adaptation in the subcortical sensory pathway. eLife 2020; 9:64501. [PMID: 33289479 PMCID: PMC7785290 DOI: 10.7554/elife.64501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The subcortical sensory pathways are the fundamental channels for mapping the outside world to our minds. Sensory pathways efficiently transmit information by adapting neural responses to the local statistics of the sensory input. The long-standing mechanistic explanation for this adaptive behaviour is that neural activity decreases with increasing regularities in the local statistics of the stimuli. An alternative account is that neural coding is directly driven by expectations of the sensory input. Here, we used abstract rules to manipulate expectations independently of local stimulus statistics. The ultra-high-field functional-MRI data show that abstract expectations can drive the response amplitude to tones in the human auditory pathway. These results provide first unambiguous evidence of abstract processing in a subcortical sensory pathway. They indicate that the neural representation of the outside world is altered by our prior beliefs even at initial points of the processing hierarchy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Tabas
- Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Max Planck Research Group Neural Mechanism of Human Communication, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Glad Mihai
- Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Max Planck Research Group Neural Mechanism of Human Communication, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stefan Kiebel
- Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop (CeTI), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Robert Trampel
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Katharina von Kriegstein
- Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Max Planck Research Group Neural Mechanism of Human Communication, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
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19
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Swanborough H, Staib M, Frühholz S. Neurocognitive dynamics of near-threshold voice signal detection and affective voice evaluation. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:6/50/eabb3884. [PMID: 33310844 PMCID: PMC7732184 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abb3884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Communication and voice signal detection in noisy environments are universal tasks for many species. The fundamental problem of detecting voice signals in noise (VIN) is underinvestigated especially in its temporal dynamic properties. We investigated VIN as a dynamic signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) problem to determine the neurocognitive dynamics of subthreshold evidence accrual and near-threshold voice signal detection. Experiment 1 showed that dynamic VIN, including a varying SNR and subthreshold sensory evidence accrual, is superior to similar conditions with nondynamic SNRs or with acoustically matched sounds. Furthermore, voice signals with affective meaning have a detection advantage during VIN. Experiment 2 demonstrated that VIN is driven by an effective neural integration in an auditory cortical-limbic network at and beyond the near-threshold detection point, which is preceded by activity in subcortical auditory nuclei. This demonstrates the superior recognition advantage of communication signals in dynamic noise contexts, especially when carrying socio-affective meaning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huw Swanborough
- Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Staib
- Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sascha Frühholz
- Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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