Spatial organization of frequency preference and selectivity in the human inferior colliculus

Federico De Martino (), Michelle Moerel, Pierre-Francois van de Moortele, Kamil Ugurbil, Rainer Goebel, Essa Yacoub and Elia Formisano
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Federico De Martino: Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40
Michelle Moerel: Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40
Pierre-Francois van de Moortele: Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota
Kamil Ugurbil: Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota
Rainer Goebel: Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40
Essa Yacoub: Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota
Elia Formisano: Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 40

Nature Communications, 2013, vol. 4, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract To date, the functional organization of human auditory subcortical structures can only be inferred from animal models. Here we use high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging at ultra-high magnetic fields (7T) to map the organization of spectral responses in the human inferior colliculus, a subcortical structure fundamental for sound processing. We reveal a tonotopic map with a spatial gradient of preferred frequencies approximately oriented from dorsolateral (low frequencies) to ventromedial (high frequencies) locations. Furthermore, we observe a spatial organization of spectral selectivity (tuning) of functional magnetic resonance imaging responses in the human inferior colliculus. Along isofrequency contours, functional magnetic resonance imaging tuning is narrowest in central locations and broadest in the surrounding regions. Finally, by comparing subcortical and cortical auditory areas we show that functional magnetic resonance imaging tuning is narrower in human inferior colliculus than on the cortical surface. Our findings pave the way to noninvasive investigations of sound processing in human subcortical nuclei and for studying the interplay between subcortical and cortical neuronal populations.

Date: 2013
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2379

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