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Modulatory Mechanisms Controlling Auditory Processing

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Synaptic Mechanisms in the Auditory System

Part of the book series: Springer Handbook of Auditory Research ((SHAR,volume 41))

Abstract

The importance of neuromodulation for auditory processing is, essentially, that “tone” matters. The tone of a message can carry as much information as the ­message itself, and clearly there are parallels in everyday experience as illustrated by the above quote. In the brain, the tone of auditory processing is determined by neural systems that also contribute to changes in behavioral state, such as arousal and attention. The extent to which these changes involve neuromodulation depends, at least in part, on how one defines the term. Yet the end result – setting the tone of a message – is fundamental to auditory function. The goals of this chapter is to explain what neuromodulation is (hint: it depends on who you’re talking to) and to describe some of its mechanisms and how they affect neural processing. To illustrate the main points, examples of neural processing focus on the auditory system where possible, and examples of neuromodulation focus on cholinergic modulation of auditory processing.

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Acknowledgments

The author’s research cited here was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIDCD DC02967 and NIDA DA12929) and the National Science Foundation (IBN 9510904).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurobiology and Behavior and Center for Hearing Research, University of California, 2205 McGaugh Hall, Irvine, CA, 92697-4550, USA

    Raju Metherate

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  1. Raju Metherate
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Correspondence to Raju Metherate .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Vollum Institute, Oregon Health Sciences University, SW. Sam Jackson Park Rd. 3181, Portland, 97239-3098, Oregon, USA

    Laurence O. Trussell

  2. , Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, 20742-4415, Maryland, USA

    Arthur N. Popper

  3. Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, 02543, Massachusetts, USA

    Richard R. Fay

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Metherate, R. (2012). Modulatory Mechanisms Controlling Auditory Processing. In: Trussell, L., Popper, A., Fay, R. (eds) Synaptic Mechanisms in the Auditory System. Springer Handbook of Auditory Research, vol 41. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9517-9_8

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