Processing complexity increases in superficial layers of human primary auditory cortex

Michelle Moerel*, Federico De Martino, Kâmil Uğurbil, Essa Yacoub, Elia Formisano

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The layers of the neocortex each have a unique anatomical connectivity and functional role. Their exploration in the human brain, however, has been severely restricted by the limited spatial resolution of non-invasive measurement techniques. Here, we exploit the sensitivity and specificity of ultra-high field fMRI at 7 Tesla to investigate responses to natural sounds at deep, middle, and superficial cortical depths of the human auditory cortex. Specifically, we compare the performance of computational models that represent different hypotheses on sound processing inside and outside the primary auditory cortex (PAC). We observe that while BOLD responses in deep and middle PAC layers are equally well represented by a simple frequency model and a more complex spectrotemporal modulation model, responses in superficial PAC are better represented by the more complex model. This indicates an increase in processing complexity in superficial PAC, which remains present throughout cortical depths in the non-primary auditory cortex. These results suggest that a relevant transformation in sound processing takes place between the thalamo-recipient middle PAC layers and superficial PAC. This transformation may be a first computational step towards sound abstraction and perception, serving to form an increasingly more complex representation of the physical input.

Original languageEnglish
Article number5502
Number of pages9
JournalScientific Reports
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Apr 2019

Keywords

  • 7 T
  • AREAS
  • CEREBRAL-CORTEX
  • FUNCTIONAL MRI
  • LAMINAR ORGANIZATION
  • NATURAL SOUNDS
  • NEURONS
  • RECEPTIVE-FIELDS
  • RESPONSE PROPERTIES
  • SENSITIVITY

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