title: Dynamic sound localization in cats.
abstract: Sound localization in cats and humans relies on head-centered acoustic cues. Studies have shown that humans are able to localize sounds during rapid head movements that are directed toward the target or other objects of interest. We studied whether cats are able to utilize similar dynamic acoustic cues to localize acoustic targets delivered during rapid eye-head gaze shifts. We trained cats with visual-auditory two-step tasks in which we presented a brief sound burst during saccadic eye-head gaze shifts toward a prior visual target. No consistent or significant differences in accuracy or precision were found between this dynamic task (2-step saccade) and the comparable static task (single saccade when the head is stable) in either horizontal or vertical direction. Cats appear to be able to process dynamic auditory cues and execute complex motor adjustments to accurately localize auditory targets during rapid eye-head gaze shifts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Janet L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ruhland
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin tcyin@wisc.edu.
authors.forename: Tom C T
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D054644:Ear Auricle / Q000502:physiology; D053483:Eye Movement Measurements; D005502:Food; D019416:Head Movements / Q000502:physiology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011601:Psychophysics; D012438:Saccades / Q000502:physiology; D013017:Sound Localization / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology
keywords: dynamic task; gaze movement; pinna movement; sound localization