Brain architecture, neoclassical style.Brain architecture, neoclassical ne·o·clas·si·cism also Ne·o·clas·si·cism n. A revival of classical aesthetics and forms, especially: a. A revival in literature in the late 17th and 18th centuries, characterized by a regard for the classical ideals of reason, form, style Anatomical studies of sonar-using animals reveal a striking architecture in three brain areas, called nuclei, which are devoted to hearing. "Cells in these nuclei form orderly rows or columns that are more uniformly aligned than is found in most" non-sonar-sing mammals, reports John Zook John Zook (born September 24, 1947 in Garden City, Kansas) was a defensive end who played 12 seasons in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Atlanta Falcons. Zook attended the University of Kansas. of Ohio University Ohio University, main campus at Athens; state supported; coeducational; chartered 1804, opened 1809 as the first college in the Old Northwest. There are additional campuses at Chiillicothe, Lancaster, and Zanesville, as well as facilities throughout the state. in Athens. In addition, these auditory nuclei, which he and his colleagues examined in several bat and dolphin species Dolphins are aquatic mammals related to whales and porpoises, famous for their intelligence, apparent compassion, and joy. The name is from Ancient Greek δελφίς delphis meaning "with a womb", viz. , appear to be connected by bundles of parallel nerve fibers nerve fiber n. A threadlike process of a neuron, especially the axon that conducts nerve impulses. . In relation to cells in the first nucleus, cells in the second nucleus were arranged in a "slanted-line pattern," Zook's group observed. Since these two nuclei are connected with parallel fibers of differing lengths, simultaneous impulses traveling from different cells in the first nucleus will arrive in a staggered fashion at the second nucleus. Such an arrangement could "preserve or analyze temporal patterns" in the signals being relayed through the auditory system Noun 1. auditory system - the sensory system for hearing auditory apparatus - all of the components of the organ of hearing including the outer and middle and inner ears ear - the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium , they report. For example, the many frequencies in a single sound could be separated if different cells of the first nucleus were frequency-specific. Zook also found that a third auditory nucleus gets orderly input from both of the other nuclei -- a direct line from the first nucleus and an indirect or "delayed line" from the second. He speculates that such a structure could be the place where the brain compares sounds from sonar emissions with sounds from the returning echoes. Using such comparisons, he says, bats and dolphins could construct acoustic images of their environment. |
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