Christoph E. Schreiner

Research Interests

Representation of complex auditory signals in the central auditory system (cochlear nucleus, midbrain, cortex), speech-like signals, computer models.

Research Summary

I) Functional Organization of the Central Auditory System:
We study the functional layout and coding strategies of auditory cortex, thalamus and midbrain in cats and monkeys using electrophysiological and neuroanatomical methods. In particular we are applying reverse correlation methods to define linear and nonlinear aspects of receptive fields. By simultaneously recording from several neurons, we can quantify the receptive field transformation from one station to the next. We are also developing optical recording methods to study the functional topography of auditory cortex over larger extent than possible with single neuron recordings

II) Representation of speech-like signals in the central auditory system of mammals:
Research focuses on coding and topographic representation of periodicity pitch (fundamental frequency), temporal segmentation and categorization (phonems, syllables, words) and vowel-like and consonant-like signals in the auditory cortex of cats and primates. Applied methods include recordings from single neurons and groups of neurons in anesthetized or behaving animals, correlation analysis of neuronal activity to delineate cooperative cell assemblies, and network modeling of the central representation of complex auditory signals. Human psychophysical and cortical surface recording studies of temporal/spectral coding of speech-like signals complement the modeling efforts.

Selected Publications

R.C. Froemke, M.M. Merzenich, C.E. Schreiner: A synaptic memory trace for cortical plasticity. Nature 450:425-429, 2007. K. Imaizumi, C.E. Schreiner: Spatial interactions between spectral integration and frequency gradient in primary auditory cortex. J. Neurophysiol. 98: 2933- 2942, 2007.

C.E. Schreiner, J.A. Winer: Auditory cortex mapmaking: Principles, projections, plasticity. Neuron 56:356-364, 2007.

M.D. Keeling, B. Calhoun, K. Krüger, D.B. Polley, C.E. Schreiner: Spectral integration plasticity in cat auditory cortex induced by perceptual training. Exp. Brain Res. 184:493-509, 2008.

H.L. Read, L.M. Miller, C.E. Schreiner, J.A. Winer: Two thalamic projection sources to primary auditory cortex. Neuroscience 152:151-159, 2008.

C.A. Atencio, C.E. Schreiner: Spectrotemporal processing differences for fast- spiking and regular spiking neurons in cat auditory cortex. J. Neurosci. 28:3897- 3910, 2008

C.A. Atencio, T. Sharpee, C.E. Schreiner: Cooperative nonlinearities in auditory cortical neurons. Neuron (in press), 2008.