Differential dynamic signal processing in frog vestibular neurons [Elektronische Ressource] / vorgelegt von Sandra Pfanzelt

Di erential Dynamic Signal Processing inFrog Vestibular NeuronsSandra PfanzeltMunchen 2008Di erential Dynamic Signal Processing inFrog Vestibular NeuronsSandra PfanzeltDissertationan der Fakult at fur Biologieder Ludwig{Maximilians{Universit atMunc henvorgelegt vonSandra Pfanzeltaus Munc henMunc hen, den 27.10.2008Erstgutachter: Prof. Dr. Hans StrakaZweitgutachter: Prof. Dr. Benedikt GrotheTag der mundlic hen Prufung: 06.02.2009SummaryXX Central vestibular neurons process head movement-related signals. Characterization ofthese neurons and the knowledge about their connectivity is crucial to confer them a particularrole in gaze and posture stabilization. Di erent aspects of the sensory-motor transformationwere studied in vestibular neurons recorded from isolated brain preparations of adult frogs. Thepreparation includes the N.VIII with its individual labyrinthine nerve branches.XX Vestibular neurons subdivide into tonic and phasic neurons based on di erential intrinsicmembrane properties and might be suited to process di erent dynamic components of vestibularsignals. Intracellular injections of oscillatory frequency-modulated currents showed that tonicneurons form neuronal elements with low-pass lter properties. In contrast, phasic neuronsexhibited a pronounced subthreshold resonance at40 Hz due to the activation of prominentpotassium conductances, which conferred to these neurons band-pass lter-like properties.