Transmission of information from hair cells to auditory neurons
Abstract
Information theory has been applied to the field of neuroscience, in an attempt to explain how external signals are encoded and transmitted between neurons. Spike train recordings were analyzed to determine whether information about an incoming stimulus is reflected in the firing rate, timing of individual spikes, or other statistical measures. In a number of systems, it was shown that neurons transmit information at rates approaching physical limits, reaching near optimal performance when signals detected have a statistical structure that reflects the outside world. Prior studies of information transmission in the auditory system were mostly done in vivo. We propose rather to isolate the sensory epithelia and study the transmission of auditory information in vitro. We aim to apply mechanical stimulation directly to one hair cell bundle, while performing electrophysiological measurements on the cell soma, and on the innervating neurons. Our goal is to determine the information content in hair bundle response, somatic response, as well as that of the auditory nerve fibers. Further, we aim to understand how information from multiple hair cells is integrated, in systems that exhibit convergent innervation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 20, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1910179
Entities
People
- Dolores Bozovic
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of California, Los Angeles