Abstract
The specific contribution of core auditory cortex to auditory perception –such as categorization– remains controversial. To identify a contribution of the primary auditory cortex (A1) to perception, we recorded A1 activity while monkeys reported whether a temporal sequence of tone bursts was heard as having a “small” or “large” frequency difference. We found that A1 had frequency-tuned responses that habituated, independent of frequency content, as this auditory sequence unfolded over time. We also found that A1 firing rate was modulated by the monkeys’ reports of “small” and “large” frequency differences; this modulation correlated with their behavioral performance. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that A1 contributes to the processes underlying auditory categorization.
Highlights
A fundamental goal of the auditory system is to transform acoustic stimuli into discrete perceptual representations (Griffiths and Warren, 2004; Bizley and Cohen, 2013)
To further elucidate a contribution of core auditory cortex to auditory perception, we tested A1’s role in a categorization task in which rhesus monkeys reported whether the frequency difference between two interleaved sequences of tone bursts was “small” or “large.” This stimulus is akin to that used in human streaming studies in which subjects report “one stream” or “two streams.”
We found that A1 firing rate was modulated by the monkeys’ reports of “small” and “large.” Importantly, the monkeys’ behavioral performance positively correlated with this choice-dependent neuronal modulation. These findings provide evidence that A1 activity contributes to the neuronal mechanisms underlying auditory categorization
Summary
A fundamental goal of the auditory system is to transform acoustic stimuli into discrete perceptual representations (i.e., sounds) (Griffiths and Warren, 2004; Bizley and Cohen, 2013). Auditory perception is thought to be mediated by the neuronal mechanisms occurring in the “ventral” auditory pathway (Romanski et al, 1999; Rauschecker and Tian, 2000; Romanski and Averbeck, 2009; Hackett, 2011; Bizley and Cohen, 2013) In rhesus monkeys, this pathway begins in the anterolateral belt region of the auditory cortex, which receives input from core auditory cortex (including the primary auditory cortex; A1) and the middle lateral belt region of the auditory cortex. To further elucidate a contribution of core auditory cortex to auditory perception, we tested A1’s role in a categorization task in which rhesus monkeys reported whether the frequency difference between two interleaved sequences of tone bursts was “small” or “large.” This stimulus is akin to that used in human streaming studies in which subjects report “one stream” or “two streams.”. The monkeys did not receive any juice rewards or any other behavioral feedback during this paradigm
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