Cortical representation of pitch perception in mice

Communications Biology 2026 Open access

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Authors: Janel Putnam, Abhay Kumar, Nasiru K. Gill, Jonathan Dinh, Franshesca Orellana Castellanos, Sofia Leusch, Sarah Vauhgn, Nikolas A. Francis
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-026-10246-4
Cited by: 0
References: 43

Abstract

Abstract Pitch perception arises from temporal and spectral cues in sound. We hypothesized that mice rely on temporal cues because they have wide auditory filters, resembling humans with hearing loss or cochlear implants. Using computational modeling, behavioral assays, and widefield calcium imaging, we found that the structure of periodotopy in auditory cortex predicts how well mice recognize temporal pitch cues, establishing mice as a robust model for temporal pitch perception.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Neural dynamics and brain function Neuroscience and Music Perception

Publication details

Journal / source
Communications Biology
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Volume
9
Issue
1
Publication date
13 May 2026
Language
EN