Understanding how communication sounds are processed and encoded in the central auditory system is critical to understanding neural bases of acoustic communication. Here, we examined neuronal representations species-specific vocalizations, which that many species rely on for survival social interaction. In some species, evoked responses cortex neurons stronger response natural conspecific vocalizations than their time-reversed, spectrally identical, counterparts. We applied information...

In all sensory modalities, intracortical inhibition shapes the functional properties of cortical neurons but also influences responses to natural stimuli. Studies performed in various species have revealed that auditory cortex respond conspecific vocalizations by temporal spike patterns displaying a high trial-to-trial reliability, which might result from precise timing between excitation and inhibition. Studying guinea pig cortex, we show partial blockage GABA_A receptors gabazine...

Humans and animals maintain accurate sound discrimination in the presence of loud sources background noise. It is commonly assumed that this ability relies on robustness auditory cortex responses. However, only a few attempts have been made to characterize neural communication sounds masked by noise at each stage system quantify effects neuronal terms alterations amplitude modulations. Here, we measured between vocalization-shaped stationary from multiunit responses recorded cochlear...

GABAergic cells of the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) can potentially exert strong control over transmission information through thalamus to cerebral cortex. Anatomical studies have shown that reticulo-thalamic connections are spatially organized in visual, somatosensory, and auditory systems. However, issue how inhibitory input from TRN controls functional properties relay whether this follows topographic rules remains largely unknown. Here we assessed consequences increasing or...

Spectro-temporal properties of auditory cortex neurons have been extensively studied with artificial sounds but it is still unclear whether they help in understanding neuronal responses to communication sounds. Here, we directly compared spectro-temporal receptive fields (STRFs) obtained from the same using both stimuli (dynamic moving ripples, DMRs) and natural (conspecific vocalizations) that were matched terms spectral content, average power modulation spectrum. On a population exhibiting...

Abstract Understanding the activity budget of mother‐young pairs can inform how energy is allocated and its relation to development young. Using suction cup tag data collected off Sainte Marie, Madagascar, during calving season, we compared time budgets mothers their calves in capital‐breeding humpback whales, investigated changes with age, assessed mother‐calf behavioral synchrony based on swimming speed. We found that much low‐level activities (i.e., static/quasi‐static or at low speed)....

Abstract In many species, neurons with highly selective stimulus‐response properties characterize higher order sensory areas and/or motor of the CNS. songbird nuclei, responses HVC (used as a proper name) during playback bird's own song (BOS) are probably one most striking examples selectivity for natural stimuli. We examined here to what extent spike‐timing carries information about and time‐reversed versions BOS. From heterogenous population 107 recorded in long‐day or short‐day...

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Huntington's disease (HD) is a late-onset fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the gene coding for protein huntingtin and characterised progressive motor, psychiatric cognitive decline. We previously demonstrated that normal synaptic function HD could be restored application of dopamine receptor agonists, suggesting changes release or bioavailability may contributing factor to process....

Abstract For humpback whales, the mother–calf pair is only stable social unit with calves following their mother after birth and staying in close proximity. This strategy ensures maintenance of such proximity between her calf, benefiting from maternal protection care. Using multi-sensor tags, we recorded diving behavior at three different age-classes (C1, C2, C3) to assess how developed natural environment an early stage life. From 29 deployments on calves, extracted metrics two C1 neonate...

Abstract Background noise strongly penalizes auditory perception of speech in humans or vocalizations animals. Despite this, neurons are still able to detect communications sounds against considerable levels background noise. We collected neuronal recordings cochlear nucleus (CN), inferior colliculus (IC), thalamus, and primary secondary cortex response presented either a stationary chorus anesthetized guinea pigs at three signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs; −10, 0, 10 dB). provide evidence that,...

Getting maternal milk through nursing is vital for all newborn mammals. Despite its importance, has been poorly documented in humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ). Nursing difficult to observe underwater without disturbing the and usually impossible from a ship. We attempted calf’s perspective by placing CATS cam tags on three whale calves Sainte Marie channel, Madagascar, Indian Ocean, during breeding seasons. are animal-borne multi-sensor equipped with video camera, hydrophone,...

Studying underwater soundscapes of critical habitats marine mammals can provide valuable information on the acoustic environment utilized by sound-reliant animals. For endangered Hawaiian monk seal Neomonachus schauinslandi (HMS), scene their aquatic is poorly understood. We measured ambient noise levels and characterized sound sources at 4 shallow HMS. Broadband ranged from 107.8-123.4 dB re 1 µPa. Octave band showed diel patterns associated with biological anthropogenic that mask HMS...

Morphometric studies of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) occurring in the Indian Ocean area have been limited by technology currently available. In Sainte Marie channel, Madagascar, straightforward aerial single-camera photogrammetry was tested on mother-calf pairs that combines standard Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle (UAV) with free, easy-to-access, and user-friendly software. The goals study were to estimate mother calf body measurements investigate effect maternal parity (primiparous...

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) use vocalizations during diverse social interactions or activities such as foraging mating. Unlike songs produced only by males, calls are all types of individuals (adult males and females, juveniles calves). Several studies have described in the humpback whale's breeding feeding grounds from different geographic areas. We aimed to investigate for first time vocal repertoire whale mother-calf groups season off Sainte Marie island, Madagascar, South...

Humans and animals constantly face challenging acoustic environments, such as various background noises, that impair the detection, discrimination identification of behaviourally relevant sounds. Here, we disentangled role temporal envelope tracking in reduction neuronal behavioural between communication sounds situations degradations. By collecting activity from six different levels auditory system, nerve up to secondary cortex, anaesthetized guinea-pigs, found slow changes is a general...

Abstract Background Studies on animal behaviour often involve the quantification of occurrence and duration various activities. When direct observations are challenging (e.g., at night, in a burrow, sea), animal-borne devices can be used to remotely record movement an changing body posture movement, geographical position) and/or its immediate surrounding environment wet or dry, pressure, temperature, light). Changes these recorded variables related different activities undertaken by animal....

The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus is one of the most endangered pinnipeds in world, and classified as "Endangered" by International Union for Conservation Nature. Any additional knowledge about species invaluable to its effective conservation. In present study, we deployed an autonomous underwater recorder important reproductive area Greece describe vocal repertoire. Over 330 h continuous recordings, 9231 vocalizations were labelled potentially produced seals, 1694 good quality...