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Directionality of midbrain auditory neuronal responses in two frogs that communicate with calls of different temporal and spectral structure.

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Title: Directionality of midbrain auditory neuronal responses in two frogs that communicate with calls of different temporal and spectral structure.
Authors: Penna M; Núcleo Integrativo de Fisiología, Biofísica y Fisiopatología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Independencia 1027, Santiago, Chile. mpenna@med.uchile.cl., Bravo J; Núcleo Integrativo de Fisiología, Biofísica y Fisiopatología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Independencia 1027, Santiago, Chile., Cuéllar A; Núcleo Integrativo de Fisiología, Biofísica y Fisiopatología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Independencia 1027, Santiago, Chile., Rojas V; Núcleo Integrativo de Fisiología, Biofísica y Fisiopatología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Independencia 1027, Santiago, Chile.
Source: Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology [J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol] 2026 Sep; Vol. 212 (5), pp. 887-900. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jul 21.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Springer Country of Publication: Germany NLM ID: 101141792 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1432-1351 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 03407594 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: Berlin ; New York : Springer, c2001-
MeSH Terms: Mesencephalon*/physiology , Mesencephalon*/cytology , Vocalization, Animal*/physiology , Anura*/physiology , Sound Localization*/physiology , Neurons*/physiology , Ranidae*/physiology, Auditory Pathways/physiology ; Action Potentials/physiology ; Animals ; Acoustic Stimulation ; Male ; Female ; Species Specificity
Abstract: Studies in ranid frogs have shown clear patterns of responses to sound direction in midbrain auditory neurons, in consonance with the ability of males and females to locate sound sources. To explore the diversity and extent of such neuronal mechanisms, we recorded directional single-unit responses of torus semicircularis auditory neurons in the leptodactylid frogs Pleurodema thaul and Eupsophus calcaratus which produce amplitude modulated and tonal advertisement calls, respectively. In both species the largest proportion of neurons respond preferentially to contralateral sound source locations. Directionality proportions were calculated from differences in spike counts produced by individual neurons to stimuli broadcast from different azimuth angles. E. calcaratus, but not P. thaul, gives higher directional responses to stimuli built with noise carrier relative to stimuli built with tone carrier. In addition, E. calcaratus gives higher directional responses to tonal and noise stimuli relative to P. thaul, however no difference in directionality occur in response to stimuli designed after the conspecific advertisement calls. The larger directionality of responses of E. calcaratus to noisy relative to tonal stimuli aligns with a general ability of vertebrates to localize better sounds containing broad spectra. The larger directionality of neuronal responses of E. calcaratus relative to P. thaul could relate to the sharper contrast between the noisy stimuli and the tonal structure of the advertisement call of this frog. These results expand the knowledge on neuronal sound localization ability of frogs, as studies on this issue had so far been restricted to a few ranid species.
(© 2026. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)
Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical approval: The Servicio Agricola y Ganadero (SAG) authorized capture of specimens of Pleurodema thaul and Eupsophus calcaratus for the electrophysiological recordings. The neurophysiological experiments comply with the laws of animal welfare in Chile (Protocol CBA# 061 FMUCH). Open access: The article will not be published in an open access mode.
References: J Comp Physiol A. 1997 May;180(5):493-502. (PMID: 9163927)
Anim Behav. 1997 Oct;54(4):833-48. (PMID: 9344437)
J Neurophysiol. 1993 Apr;69(4):1018-30. (PMID: 8492145)
J Comp Physiol A. 1999 Jan;184(1):85-98. (PMID: 10077865)
J Comp Psychol. 2001 Mar;115(1):68-82. (PMID: 11334221)
J Comp Physiol A. 1996 Apr;178(4):435-45. (PMID: 8847660)
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Jan 21;100(2):577-80. (PMID: 12515862)
J Comp Physiol A. 1997 May;180(5):503-11. (PMID: 9163928)
J Comp Physiol A. 1991 Jun;168(6):709-25. (PMID: 1920165)
J Neurophysiol. 1996 Oct;76(4):2580-94. (PMID: 8899629)
Hear Res. 1990 Apr;45(1-2):95-113. (PMID: 2345121)
J Acoust Soc Am. 1994 Dec;96(6):3804-6. (PMID: 7814767)
J Comp Physiol A. 1998 Jun;182(6):725-35. (PMID: 9631553)
Annu Rev Neurosci. 2003;26:31-55. (PMID: 14527266)
Exp Neurol. 1972 Dec;37(3):469-80. (PMID: 4650888)
J Comp Physiol A. 1997 Apr;180(4):313-28. (PMID: 9106995)
Grant Information: 1040830 Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: Acoustic communication; Anurans; Directional responses; Single unit recordings; Torus semicircularis
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260721 Date Completed: 20261006 Latest Revision: 20261010
Update Code: 20261010
DOI: 10.1007/s00359-026-01824-2
PMID: 42479135
Database: MEDLINE
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  – Url: https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1007/s00359-026-01824-2
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  Data: Directionality of midbrain auditory neuronal responses in two frogs that communicate with calls of different temporal and spectral structure.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Penna+M%22">Penna M</searchLink>; Núcleo Integrativo de Fisiología, Biofísica y Fisiopatología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Independencia 1027, Santiago, Chile. mpenna@med.uchile.cl.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Bravo+J%22">Bravo J</searchLink>; Núcleo Integrativo de Fisiología, Biofísica y Fisiopatología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Independencia 1027, Santiago, Chile.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Cuéllar+A%22">Cuéllar A</searchLink>; Núcleo Integrativo de Fisiología, Biofísica y Fisiopatología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Independencia 1027, Santiago, Chile.<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AU" term="%22Rojas+V%22">Rojas V</searchLink>; Núcleo Integrativo de Fisiología, Biofísica y Fisiopatología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Independencia 1027, Santiago, Chile.
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  Data: Studies in ranid frogs have shown clear patterns of responses to sound direction in midbrain auditory neurons, in consonance with the ability of males and females to locate sound sources. To explore the diversity and extent of such neuronal mechanisms, we recorded directional single-unit responses of torus semicircularis auditory neurons in the leptodactylid frogs Pleurodema thaul and Eupsophus calcaratus which produce amplitude modulated and tonal advertisement calls, respectively. In both species the largest proportion of neurons respond preferentially to contralateral sound source locations. Directionality proportions were calculated from differences in spike counts produced by individual neurons to stimuli broadcast from different azimuth angles. E. calcaratus, but not P. thaul, gives higher directional responses to stimuli built with noise carrier relative to stimuli built with tone carrier. In addition, E. calcaratus gives higher directional responses to tonal and noise stimuli relative to P. thaul, however no difference in directionality occur in response to stimuli designed after the conspecific advertisement calls. The larger directionality of responses of E. calcaratus to noisy relative to tonal stimuli aligns with a general ability of vertebrates to localize better sounds containing broad spectra. The larger directionality of neuronal responses of E. calcaratus relative to P. thaul could relate to the sharper contrast between the noisy stimuli and the tonal structure of the advertisement call of this frog. These results expand the knowledge on neuronal sound localization ability of frogs, as studies on this issue had so far been restricted to a few ranid species.<br /> (© 2026. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Competing Interests
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  Data: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical approval: The Servicio Agricola y Ganadero (SAG) authorized capture of specimens of Pleurodema thaul and Eupsophus calcaratus for the electrophysiological recordings. The neurophysiological experiments comply with the laws of animal welfare in Chile (Protocol CBA# 061 FMUCH). Open access: The article will not be published in an open access mode.
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  Data: J Comp Physiol A. 1997 May;180(5):493-502. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%229163927%22">9163927)</searchLink><br />Anim Behav. 1997 Oct;54(4):833-48. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%229344437%22">9344437)</searchLink><br />J Neurophysiol. 1993 Apr;69(4):1018-30. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%228492145%22">8492145)</searchLink><br />J Comp Physiol A. 1999 Jan;184(1):85-98. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2210077865%22">10077865)</searchLink><br />J Comp Psychol. 2001 Mar;115(1):68-82. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2211334221%22">11334221)</searchLink><br />J Comp Physiol A. 1996 Apr;178(4):435-45. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%228847660%22">8847660)</searchLink><br />Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Jan 21;100(2):577-80. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2212515862%22">12515862)</searchLink><br />J Comp Physiol A. 1997 May;180(5):503-11. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%229163928%22">9163928)</searchLink><br />J Comp Physiol A. 1991 Jun;168(6):709-25. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%221920165%22">1920165)</searchLink><br />J Neurophysiol. 1996 Oct;76(4):2580-94. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%228899629%22">8899629)</searchLink><br />Hear Res. 1990 Apr;45(1-2):95-113. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%222345121%22">2345121)</searchLink><br />J Acoust Soc Am. 1994 Dec;96(6):3804-6. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%227814767%22">7814767)</searchLink><br />J Comp Physiol A. 1998 Jun;182(6):725-35. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%229631553%22">9631553)</searchLink><br />Annu Rev Neurosci. 2003;26:31-55. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2214527266%22">14527266)</searchLink><br />Exp Neurol. 1972 Dec;37(3):469-80. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%224650888%22">4650888)</searchLink><br />J Comp Physiol A. 1997 Apr;180(4):313-28. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%229106995%22">9106995)</searchLink>
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  Data: <i>Keywords: </i>Acoustic communication; Anurans; Directional responses; Single unit recordings; Torus semicircularis
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              Text: 2026 Sep
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