螽斯听觉上升神经元AN3的声反应特征及其在脑中的投射

Response characteristics of an ascending auditory neuron AN3 and its projections in the brain of the bushcricket Gampsocleis gratiosa

螽斯的趋声行为实验表明它有很好的声音辨别和声源定位能力,这显然需要听觉系统进行复杂的信息处理。本文报道了螽斯前胸神经节中的听觉上升神经元AN_3的声反应特征及其在脑中的投射。AN_3属准紧张型听觉神经元,有较高的敏感性,方向性和强度编码能力,在听觉信息加工中起重要作用。其轴突投射主要集中在间脑外侧区,与脑内局部听觉中间神经元形成突触联系。

The phonotaxis of bushcrickets demonstrates that they have good capability of reocgnizing conspecific songs and locating the sound source, which bases on complicated auditory mechanisms of the central nervous system (CNS). This article describes the response characteristics of AN3, an auditory ascending neuron in the prothoracic ganglion, and its projections within the brain. The AN3, with a quasi-tonic discharge pattern, has high sensitivity, directionality and ability to encode sound intensity. Therefore, it plays an important role in auditory information processing of CNS. Its projections in brain are mainly concentrated in the lateral part of the deutocerebrum, there synapti-cally connecting with local auditory interneurons in brain.