# Development of Specializations Required for Temporal Coding in Octopus Cells

> **NIH NIH F32** · HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL · 2022 · $71,734

## Abstract

Project Summary
The auditory system is an ideal place to study how neurons and circuits develop to encode sensory features with
temporal precision. In the cochlear nucleus, specialized cells extract information about the acoustic world and
initiate parallel processing pathways, each of which analyzes and encodes continuous auditory cues such as
frequency, phase, and amplitude. The octopus cell of the mammalian cochlear nucleus stands out for its unique
sensitivity to both the temporal and frequency components of sound stimuli. However, the mechanisms
underlying development of tonotopically organized somatic and dendritic synapses in single neurons is not
understood. Additionally, there is little understanding of the role of auditory experience in the refinement of
morphological and physiological properties that contribute to temporal coding.
I propose to carry out an integrated analysis of the molecular and biophysical properties of octopus cells and to
track how features develop during the onset of auditory experience. Using the mouse as a model system, I will
define the refinement of tonotopically organized inputs to octopus cell somas and dendrites before and after
hearing onset while parallel changes in the size and complexity of the dendritic arbor occur. This data will provide
insights into the role of auditory experience on the development of brainstem auditory circuits. I will also measure
correlated changes in ion channel expression with changes in biophysical properties at developmental timepoints
and measure electrophysiological changes as auditory experience first begins. These experiments will bridge
the sequence of anatomical refinements with physiological refinements during hearing onset.
The research training plan will provide extensive training in developmental neurobiology, methods in mouse
molecular genetics, quantitative approaches, and computational image analysis. Training will occur in the rich
scientific environment at Harvard Medical School in the Department of Neurobiology. Additionally, the training
plan includes continuing education in mentorship, communication, management, diversity, and leadership. The
training provided under this plan will provide essential skills for a successful independent research career.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10541129
- **Project number:** 5F32DC020070-02
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
- **Principal Investigator:** Lauren J Kreeger
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $71,734
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10541129

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10541129, Development of Specializations Required for Temporal Coding in Octopus Cells (5F32DC020070-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10541129. Licensed CC0.

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