Introduction to the Institute for Auditory Neuroscience

The Institute for Auditory Neuroscience targets the molecular anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and restoration of synaptic information processing in the auditory pathway. We aim to elucidate the specialized molecular and cellular mechanisms that enable information processing with at rates of hundreds per second over hours with submillisecond temporal precision. We combine complementary approaches to dissect the structure and function of hair cell ribbon synapses in the cochlea and of large calyceal central auditory synapses from the molecular level to systems function.

The hair cell synapse features a single and large ribbon-type active zone. When hair cells transduce the mechanical stimulus into an electrical signal, voltage-gated Ca2+ channels open and the ensuing Ca2+ influx triggers exocytosis of glutamate filled vesicles at the ribbon synapses. Our work on the hair cell ribbon synapse addresses fundamental questions such as “How is the high temporal precision of the auditory code brought about by a chain of stochastic events at the hair cell synapse?” and “How can a nanoscale membrane-domain turnover hundreds of vesicles without jamming and loss of molecular and structural identity? Evolved for speed, precision and inexhaustibility the synapse seems to employ intriguing synaptic mechanisms of Ca2+ channel-release site coupling, exocytosis, clearance from exocytosed material from the active zone and endocytic vesicle recycling as well as glutamate detection and action potential generation. Work over the past two decades has elucidated an unconventional molecular composition that likely explains the existence of genetic defects of the hair cell synapse (auditory synaptopathy) in humans, which leads to hearing impairment often in the absence of other symptoms. We work on developing gene therapeutic approaches to restore function in select cases of hereditary synaptopathy. For cases where such restoration of cochlear function is not emanable we aim improve the performance of cochlear implants by harnessing the potential of optogenetics for spatially more confined stimulation of the spiral ganglion. Finally, we have obtained evidence for major synaptic heterogeneity even within a given hair cell. We hypothesize that such synaptic heterogeneity enables the inner hair cell to decompose auditory information into functionally distinct neuronal channels to the brain.

Events, Press Releases & Publications


Groups

Dr. Christian Goßler
Christian Goßler

Optics Modules
Antoine Huet, PhD
Antoine Huet

Auditory Circuit Lab
Dr. Lukasz Jablonski
Lukasz Jablonski

Computational Neuroscience and Neuroengineering
Dr. Marcus Jeschke
Marcus Jeschke

Cognitive Hearing in Primates
Dr. Kathrin Kusch
Kathrin Kusch

Functional Auditory Genomics
Dr. Thomas Mager
Thomas Mager

Advanced Optogenes
Prof. Dr. Tobias Moser
Tobias Moser

Molecular Anatomy, Physiology,
and Pathology of Sound Coding and Prosthetics
Prof. Dr. Tina Pangršič
Tina Pangršič

Synaptic Physiology of Mammalian Vestibular Hair Cells
Dr. Julia Preobraschenski
Julia Preobraschenski

Biochemistry of Membrane Dynamics
Dr. Eri Sakata
Eri Sakata

Structural Biology of Protein Quality Control
Prof. Dr. Nicola Strenzke
Nicola Strenzke

Auditory Systems Physiology
Dr. Barbara Vona
Barbara Vona

Hearing Genomics
Prof. Dr. Carolin Wichmann
Carolin Wichmann

Molecular Architecture of Synapses

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SFB889
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Universitätsmedizin Göttingen