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The auditory cortex mediates the perceptual effects of acoustic temporal expectation

Nature Neuroscience volume 14, pages 246–251 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

When events occur at predictable instants, anticipation improves performance. Knowledge of event timing modulates motor circuits and thereby improves response speed. By contrast, the neuronal mechanisms that underlie changes in sensory perception resulting from expectation are not well understood. We developed a behavioral procedure for rats in which we manipulated expectations about sound timing. Valid expectations improved both the speed and the accuracy of the subjects' performance, indicating not only improved motor preparedness but also enhanced perception. Single-neuron recordings in primary auditory cortex showed enhanced representation of sounds during periods of heightened expectation. Furthermore, we found that activity in auditory cortex was causally linked to the performance of the task and that changes in the neuronal representation of sounds predicted performance on a trial-by-trial basis. Our results indicate that changes in neuronal representation as early as primary sensory cortex mediate the perceptual advantage conferred by temporal expectation.

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Figure 1: Task and manipulation of temporal expectation.
Figure 2: Valid temporal expectation improved performance.
Figure 3: Inactivation of auditory cortex decreased performance.
Figure 4: Temporal expectation modulated neuronal activity in the auditory cortex.
Figure 5: Modulation of neuronal activity was specific to driven activity.
Figure 6: Neuronal response increased as the expected moment of the target approached.
Figure 7: Neuronal activity in auditory cortex was correlated with behavioral performance.

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Acknowledgements

We thank G.H. Otazu, A.E. Baker, J.M. Abolafia and B.J. Burbach for assistance with preliminary studies. This research was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Swartz Foundation and by grants from the Swartz Foundation, the US National Institutes of Health and the Marie Robertson Fund.

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  1. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA

    Santiago Jaramillo & Anthony M Zador

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  1. Santiago Jaramillo
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  2. Anthony M Zador
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Contributions

S.J. and A.M.Z. designed the project and wrote the manuscript. S.J. collected the data and performed the analyses.

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Correspondence to Anthony M Zador.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Supplementary Figures 1–14 and Supplementary Equations 1–3 (PDF 508 kb)

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Jaramillo, S., Zador, A. The auditory cortex mediates the perceptual effects of acoustic temporal expectation. Nat Neurosci 14, 246–251 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2688

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