Pinna Movements of the Cat during Sound Localization
Luis C. Populin and Tom C. T. Yin
Neuroscience Training Program and Department of Neurophysiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
We measured the movements of the external ear, or pinna, using the magnetic search coil technique in cats trained to look at auditory and visual targets for a food reward. No behavioral contingencies were placed on pinna movements. Prominent pinna movements accompany eye movements when the animal orients to either auditory or visual stimuli. In visual trials the pinna movements are coordinated with eye movements, suggesting that they are part of the general orientation response of the animal. In auditory trials the pinna response was composed of two movements: short- and long-latency components. Whereas the long-latency component seemed to occur with the eye movement to the target, the short-latency component was coupled to the onset of the stimulus. The short-latency component (~25 msec) was highly asymmetrical, being largest in the pinna ipsilateral to the stimuli. In one animal it persisted after >105 trials.
Key words: cat; external ear; pinna movements; sound localization; orientation response; auditory and visual stimuli
Source: The Journal of Neuroscience, June 1, 1998, 18(11):4233-4243
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