ABSTRACT
In natural acoustical environments, most biologically related sounds containing frequency-modulated (FM) components repeat over periods of time. They are often in rapid sequence rather than in temporal isolation. Few studies examined the neuronal response patterns evoked by FM stimuli at different presentation rates (PR). In the present investigation, by using normal electrophysiological technique, we specifically studied the temporal features of response of the inferior collicular (IC) neurons to FM sweeps with different modulation ranges (MR) in conditions of distinct PR in mouse. The results showed that most of the recorded neurons responded best to narrower MRs (narrow-pass, up-sweep: 60.00%, 54/90; down-sweep: 63.33%, 57/90), while a small fraction of neurons displayed other patterns such as band-pass (up-sweep, 16.67%, 15/90; down-sweep, 18.89%, 17/90), all-pass (up-sweep, 18.89%, 17/90; down-sweep, 13.33%, 12/90) and wide-pass (up-sweep, 4.44%, 4/90; down-sweep, 4.44%, 4/90). Both the discharge rate and duration of recorded neurons decreased but the latency lengthened with increase in PR, when different PRs from 0.5/s to 10/s of FM sound were used. The percentage of total directional selective neurons, up-directional selective neurons, and down-directional selective neurons changed with the variation of PR or MR. These results indicate that temporal features of mouse midbrain neurons responding to FM sweeps are co-shaped by the MR and PR. Possible mechanisms underlying may be related to spectral and temporal integration of the FM sound by the IC neurons.