ISSN:
1432-1351
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary The 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) autoradiographic method is used to analyse the functional organization of the auditory forebrain nucleus, field L, in parrots, ducks, pigeons, gulls and passerine birds. The data are compared to earlier studies in domestic and Guinea fowls. In all birds field L is a trilaminar structure, placed at the border between neostriatum mediale and caudale. The orientation and spatial extent within the forebrain, however, shows considerable variability. There is a close spatial relationship between field L and the overlying hyperstriatum ventrale, which is a secondary auditory center receiving input from field L. Stimulation with tones produces stripe like patterns of metabolic activity which are continuous across the layers of field L and the hyperstriatum ventrale. In all birds the position of the stripes in both areas shift in medio-lateral direction with decreasing tone frequency. In none of the birds the representation of frequencies above 3 kHz cover more than 20% of the neuronal space. Thus, high frequency hearing is underrepresented. Frequencies between 500 Hz and 3 kHz with somewhat variable representation, cover most of the neuronal space. Fowls and pigeons appear to have a low frequency specialization in field L.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00610661
