Processing of Static and Dynamic Acoustic Cues in the Mammalian Auditory System

This projects aims at elucidating the computational principles underlying neuronal processing of static and dynamic acoustic cues. A major focus has been the problem of how our auditory system can reliably localize sound sources in a reverberant environment. In this context we successfully scrutinized the principles of monaural echo suppression on a theoretical level and investigated the anatomy and in vivo physiology of context-dependent binaural echo suppression in mammals. Recently we have paid more attention to the dynamics of sound localization as in acoustic motion or caused by concurrent sound sources. At the same time we are widening your theoretical studies so as to include alternative solution for auditory processing and object formation in new animal model systems.

Related Publications

• Meffin H & Grothe B The modulation of spike rate in the dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus by a virtually moving sound source Proc. CNS 2006 p. 78.
• Pecka M, Zahn TP, Saunier-Rebori B, Siveke I, Wiegrebe L, Pollak GD, & Grothe B (2007) An auditory brainstem circuit serving in echo suppression J Neuroscience 27:1782-1790
• Friedel P, Bürck M, & van Hemmen JL Neuronal identification of acoustic signal periodicity Biol Cybern 95 246-260 (2007)
• Bürck M & van Hemmen JL Modeling the Cochlear Nucleus: A site for monaural echo suppression? J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 122(4) 2226-2235 (2007)
• Friedel P, Young BA, and van Hemmen, JL Rocking the boat: Auditory localization of ground-borne vibrations in snakes Physical Review Letters, Phys. Rev. Lett. 100 48701 (2008)
• Vossen C, Christensen-Dalsgaard J, and van Hemmen, JL An analytical model of the lizard pressure-gradient receiver ear J. Acoust. Soc. Am., submitted (2008)
• Bürck M & van Hemmen JL Neuronal identification of signal periodicity by balanced inhibition Biol. Cybern. accepted (2009)
• Bürck M, Sichert AB & van Hemmen JL Optimal echo suppression in preparation
• Saunier Rebori B., Grothe B., Klug A, Felmy F Spillover mediated transmission at inhibitory synapses allows echo suppression.Submitted to Neuron
• Meffin H, Grothe B Selective Filtering to Spurious Localization Cues in the Mammalian Auditory Brainstem. Resubmitted (minor revisions) to J Acoust Soc Am