title: Transformation of temporal sequences in the zebra finch auditory system.
abstract: This study examines how temporally patterned stimuli are transformed as they propagate from primary to secondary zones in the thalamorecipient auditory pallium in zebra finches. Using a new class of synthetic click stimuli, we find a robust mapping from temporal sequences in the primary zone to distinct population vectors in secondary auditory areas. We tested whether songbirds could discriminate synthetic click sequences in an operant setup and found that a robust behavioral discrimination is present for click sequences composed of intervals ranging from 11 ms to 40 ms, but breaks down for stimuli composed of longer inter-click intervals. This work suggests that the analog of the songbird auditory cortex transforms temporal patterns to sequence-selective population responses or 'spatial codes', and that these distinct population responses contribute to behavioral discrimination of temporally complex sounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive and Neural Systems, Boston University, Boston, United States.|Convergence Research Center for Diagnosis, Treatment, and Care System for Dementia, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoonseob
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boston University, Boston, United States.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lagoy
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, United States.
authors.forename: Barbara G
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5096-5914
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Shinn-Cunningham
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, United States.|Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, United States.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1744-3970
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D001307:Auditory Perception; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001931:Brain Mapping; D046109:Passeriformes / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: auditory; neuroscience; songbird; temporal sequence processing; zebra finch