McKibben J R, Bass A H
Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
J Comp Physiol A. 1999 Jun;184(6):563-76. doi: 10.1007/s003590050356.
The midshipman fish, Porichthys notatus, generates acoustic signals for intraspecific communication. Nesting males produce long-duration "hums" which attract gravid females and can be effectively mimicked by pure tones. In this study we examine the encoding of tonal signals by the midshipman peripheral auditory system. Single-unit recordings were made from afferents innervating the sacculus while presenting sounds via an underwater loudspeaker. Units were characterized by iso-intensity spike rate and vector strength of synchronization curves, as well as by peristimulus time histograms. Additionally, response-intensity curves and responses to long-duration (up to 10 s) stimuli were obtained. As has been seen in other teleosts, afferents had highly variable activity profiles. Excitatory frequencies ranged from 60 to over 300 Hz with most units responding best around 70 or 140 Hz. Thresholds at 90 Hz ranged from 95 to 145 dB re 1 microPa. Strong synchronization provided a robust temporal code of frequency, comparable to that described for goldfish. Spike rate showed varying degrees of adaptation but high rates were generally maintained even for 10-s stimuli. The midshipman peripheral auditory system is well suited to encoding conspecific communication signals, but nonetheless shares many response patterns with the auditory system of other teleosts.
海蟾蜍鱼（Porichthys notatus）会产生用于种内交流的声学信号。筑巢的雄鱼会发出持续时间较长的“嗡嗡声”，这种声音能吸引怀有身孕的雌鱼，并且可以被纯音有效模仿。在本研究中，我们研究了海蟾蜍鱼外周听觉系统对音调信号的编码。在通过水下扬声器发出声音的同时，对支配球囊的传入神经进行单单位记录。根据等强度放电率、同步曲线的矢量强度以及刺激时间直方图对单位进行表征。此外，还获得了反应强度曲线以及对持续时间长达10秒的刺激的反应。正如在其他硬骨鱼中所观察到的那样，传入神经具有高度可变的活动模式。兴奋频率范围从60赫兹到超过300赫兹，大多数单位在70赫兹或140赫兹左右反应最佳。90赫兹时的阈值范围为相对于1微帕95至145分贝。强同步提供了一种强大的频率时间编码，类似于金鱼所描述的那样。放电率表现出不同程度的适应性，但即使对于10秒的刺激，通常也能保持较高的放电率。海蟾蜍鱼外周听觉系统非常适合编码同种交流信号，但尽管如此，它与其他硬骨鱼的听觉系统仍有许多共同的反应模式。
