Neuroscience 2005 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 290.17 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Context-dependent reorientation of linear acceleration sensitivity in parabrachial nucleus neurons responding to off-vertical-axis rotations in the macaque. |
| Authors: |
McCandless, C. H.*1,2
; Balaban, C. D.1,3,4
1Neurobiology, Univ. of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 2Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Univ. of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 3PA, Eye and Ear Institute 03 Lothrop St. Rm 153, 15213, 4USA, Eye and Ear Institute 03 Lothrop St. Rm 153, 15213, |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Sensory and Motor Systems - Vestibular -- Central physiology and anatomy |
| Secondary Theme and Topics | Disorders of the Nervous System<br />- Cognitive, Emotional and Behavioral State Disorders<br />-- Anxiety disorders |
| Session: |
290. Vestibular System: Central Physiology and Anatomy Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Sunday, November 13, 2005 1:00 PM-2:00 PM |
| Location: | Washington Convention Center - Hall A-C, Board # BB22 |
| Keywords: | Vestibular, Anxiety, Spatial Orientation, Convergence |
Balaban et al. (J. Neurophys. 88 (2002) 3175-3193) described a population of brainstem neurons responsive to natural vestibular stimulation, located in the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) of alert macaque monkeys. Prior work (McCandless and Balaban, SfN 2004) demonstrated that these units respond to periodic rotational stimuli in horizontal and vertical planes, and to OVAR. Here, we report that neurons of the parabrachial nucleus responsive to linear acceleration (i.e. tilt) stimuli exhibit different spatial tuning during vertical plane tilts versus OVAR, and during bidirectional OVAR. During vertical plane tilts, the distribution of spatial tuning responses was unremarkable. However, during OVAR, the orientation of peak spatial tuning responses tended to shift toward the directions of vertical canal planes. Neurons in the left parabrachial nucleus appear to shift their peak response direction toward the left-anterior / right posterior canal plane during clockwise rotation, and toward the right anterior / left posterior canal plane during counterclockwise rotation. This finding agrees with previously presented evidence that spatial tuning vectors are approximately orthogonal during CW and CCW rotations. The differences between OVAR spatial tuning and static tilt spatial tuning responses appear to represent a context-dependent, dynamic reorientation of spatial tuning of linear acceleration sensitivity. Due to the close relationship between the parabrachial nucleus and the amygdala, we hypothesize that the changes in spatial tuning observed during OVAR have particular behavioral implications with regard to detecting and responding to potentially threatening perturbations of ongoing angular and linear self-motion.
Supported by NIDCD: R01 DC00739 and F31 DC006321
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2005 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2005. Online.
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