Assembly and Function of Auditory Brainstem Circuitry
The auditory brainstem is a rich hub of feedforward and feedback interactions that shape auditory circuit function. We are studying the assembly and function of reciprocal connections between the cochlea and the brainstem, with emphasis on how peripheral and central maps are aligned during development, even at the single cell level. Spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) send their central axons via the vestibulocochlear nerve into the cochlear nucleus complex, where they distribute information to a variety of target neurons that process different features of the sound stimulus. In turn, olivocochlear neurons (OCNs) in the ventral brainstem send axons out the same nerve to innervate hair cells and SGNs in the cochlea. These neurons also receive top-down inputs and thus mediate direct communication between the central and peripheral auditory system that may be important for auditory attention, binaural processing, and protection from acoustic trauma. We are investigating how SGN central axons are ordered by subtype and by frequency in the cochlear nucleus, what is special about their synapses, and how this specific pattern of organization impacts computations of individual post-synaptic neurons. We are also characterizing the molecular and cellular properties of the OCNs and how these properties impact cochlear development and function. We use single-cell RNA sequencing to define cell types and develop new molecular and genetic entry points; high-resolution imaging and electron-microscope reconstructions to define circuit features; and electrophysiology to characterize synaptic connections and assess auditory circuit activity.
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