New perspectives on the owl's map of auditory space

Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2014 Feb;24(1):55-62. doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2013.08.008. Epub 2013 Sep 12.

Abstract

A map of sound direction was found in the owl's midbrain more than three decades ago. This finding suggested that the brain reconstructs spatial coordinates to represent them. Subsequent research elucidated the variables used to compute the map. Here we provide a review of the processes leading to its emergence and an updated perspective on how and what information is represented.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Mapping
  • Mesencephalon / anatomy & histology*
  • Mesencephalon / physiology
  • Nerve Net / anatomy & histology*
  • Nerve Net / physiology
  • Sound Localization / physiology*
  • Space Perception / physiology*
  • Strigiformes / anatomy & histology*
  • Strigiformes / physiology