Cholinergic Modulation of Stimulus-Specific Adaptation in the Inferior Colliculus

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
Yaneri A Ayala, Manuel S Malmierca

Abstract

Neural encoding of an ever-changing acoustic environment is a complex and demanding process that depends on modulation by neuroactive substances. Some neurons of the inferior colliculus (IC) exhibit "stimulus-specific adaptation" (SSA), i.e., a decrease in their response to a repetitive sound, but not to a rare one. Previous studies have demonstrated that acetylcholine (ACh) alters the frequency response areas of auditory neurons and therefore is important in the encoding of spectral information. Here, we address how microiontophoretic application of ACh modulates SSA in the IC of the anesthetized rat. We found that ACh decreased SSA in IC neurons by increasing the response to the repetitive tone. This effect was mainly mediated by muscarinic receptors. The strength of the cholinergic modulation depended on the baseline SSA level, exerting its greatest effect on neurons with intermediate SSA responses across IC subdivisions. Our data demonstrate that the increased availability of ACh exerts transient functional changes in partially adapting IC neurons, enhancing the sensory encoding of the ongoing stimulation. This effect potentially contributes to the propagation of ascending sensory-evoked afferent activity through the thalam...Continue Reading

Citations

Nov 28, 2015·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Maryam AghamolaeiCarles Escera
May 24, 2016·Analytical Chemistry·Douglas C Kirkpatrick, R Mark Wightman
Aug 12, 2016·The Journal of Comparative Neurology·Giedre MilinkeviciuteDavid K Ryugo
Oct 21, 2016·Neuron·Clarissa J Whitmire, Garrett B Stanley
Nov 17, 2017·Brain Structure & Function·Yaneri A Ayala, Manuel S Malmierca
Dec 17, 2017·Nature Communications·Gloria G ParrasManuel S Malmierca
Jun 20, 2020·PLoS Biology·Catalina Valdés-BaizabalManuel S Malmierca
Sep 5, 2018·Scientific Reports·Pradeep Kuravi, Rufin Vogels
Apr 17, 2020·Frontiers in Neural Circuits·Jordan M Ross, Jordan P Hamm
Dec 9, 2020·ELife·Alejandro TabasKatharina von Kriegstein
Mar 30, 2021·Frontiers in Neural Circuits·Alejandro Tabas, Katharina von Kriegstein

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