ICNC July 10, 2008, at 17:00
Abstract:
The barn owl (Tyto alba) evolved precise visual and auditory systems to
detect small prey in acoustically noisy and dimly lit conditions.
Consequently, this species provides us with an excellent model system for
studying the physiology of visual-auditory integration. In recent years, my
lab concentrated on studying visual-auditory integration in the barn owl.
Our efforts led to the discovery of two previously unknown populations of
multisensory neurons; in the thalamus and in the forebrain. These
populations add to the well known multisensory neurons that exist in the
midbrain (in the optic tectum or superior colliculus). In my talk I will
present several examples of responses of multisensory neurons from the
various brain sites, highlighting different principles of visual-auditory
integration.
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