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Y Yeshurun

Publications and source records attributed to Y Yeshurun.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Prediction of linear and non-linear responses of MGB neurons by system identification methods.

In sensory physiology, various System Identification methods are implemented to formalize stimulus-response relationships. We applied the Volterra approach for characterizing input-output relationships of cells in the medial geniculate body (MGB) of an awake squirrel monkey. Intraspecific communication calls comprised the inputs and the corresponding cellular evoked responses--the outputs. A set of vocalization was used to calculate the kernels of the transformation, and these kernels subserved to predict the responses of the cell to a different set of vocalizations. It was found that it is possible to predict the response (PSTH) of MGB cells to natural vocalizations, based on envelopes of the spectral components of the vocalization. Some of the responses could be predicted by assuming a linear transformation function, whereas other responses could be predicted by non-linear (second order) kernels. These two modes of transformation, which are also reflected by a distinct spatial distribution of the linear vis-à-vis non-linear responding cells, apparently represent a new revelation of parallel processing of auditory information.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Identification of MGB cells by volterra kernels. III. A glance into the black box.

Neuronal systems can be described by their transfer functions, which can be represented by a Volterra series expansion. While the high level of abstraction which characterizes this representation enables a global description, it is problematic, to some extent, in the context of linking the formal representation of the system to its actual structure. The formal representation is unique, yet there are multiple physical realizations of this representation. Separating the system's output into its logical components (linear, cross-linear, and self nonlinear, in this study), and inspecting the relative contribution of these components, might provide a key towards a linkage between the formal and actual representations. Based on results drawn from identification of MGB cells of the squirrel monkey, it is shown that the relative contributions can be described in neurobiological terms such as excitation and inhibition and thus be attributed to actual subsystems.

Animals↗

Functional organization of the medial geniculate body's subdivisions of the awake squirrel monkey.

The response properties of 138 cells in the medial geniculate body (MGB), of the awake squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus), to 7 species-specific vocalizations were studied. Cells were divided into 4 subgroups: 26 in the ventral, 24 in the medial and 46 in the lateral subdivision. Forty-two cells located on the borders between the subdivisions represent the fourth group. No significant differences were found between the subdivisions with respect to their selectivity, nor did cells in any subdivision respond preferentially to any particular vocalization. On the other hand, the response patterns of the ventral and the lateral subdivisions showed significant differences (P less than 0.001, chi 2-test) from those of the medial subdivision. Most of the cells in the medial subdivision (87.5%) responded with similar response pattern to the 7 vocalizations (mainly 'on' or 'sustain'), while most of the cells in the ventral and the lateral subdivisions (61.5% and 69.6% respectively) responded with complex, time-locked and different patterns to the various vocalizations. Cells that exhibited a response characterized as an intermediate between the two types were accumulated mainly on or close to the borders between the medial and the other subdivisions of the MGB. The possible role of each response patterns is discussed with respect to the projection of the subdivisions to the cortex.

Animals↗