DYNAMIC PLASTICITY IN AUDITORY CORTEX

描述：该项目研究了塑性的动力学， 听觉皮层 而重组的频率图在小学 听觉皮层在早期的研究中已经完全建立，这些 发生的变化是未知的。 大脑皮层重组主要表现为 通过大脑皮层的频率图， 急性准备中的单个电极，但这些记录不能 测量功能连接性。 复杂的解剖结构 初级听觉皮层，包括广泛的丘脑皮层输入， 内在电路和不同的细胞形态，表明功能性 连通性是大脑皮层的重要组成部分。 了解动态 皮层重组的过程以及相关的功能变化 连接将提供深入了解皮层神经元的潜在机制， 可塑性 该项目将进一步了解皮质 可塑性及其与学习和频率特异性听力损失的关系。 多个单位的同时峰放电活动分布 整个听觉皮层将在几个月内长期记录 这是第一次连续测量大脑皮层 当动物学习新任务时， 适应有限的感官输入。 这种方法将与 实验程序已被证明诱导频率图 为了直接测量听觉的动力学， 皮层可塑性 这项研究的结果将是一个定量的 听觉皮层可塑性的图片表示的变化，调谐和 随着时间的推移，功能连接。 听觉皮层的可塑性是其中之一 一个发生在中枢神经系统的可塑性的例子， to be a substrate基板for learning学习in general一般. 大脑皮层组织 在清醒的猫中观察到的结果将导致对神经系统类型的新见解。 这种可塑性可能发生在患有严重听力障碍的成年人身上 损失 它也将最终有助于理解 助听器和人工耳蜗的效果。

DESCRIPTION: This project investigates the dynamics of plasticity in auditory cortex. While reorganization of the frequency map in primary auditory cortex has been fully established in earlier studies, how these changes occur is unknown. Cortical reorganization has been revealed mainly through cortical frequency maps derived from making many penetrations with a single electrode in an acute preparation, but these recordings cannot measure functional connectivity. The complex anatomical structure of primary auditory cortex, which includes extensive thalamocortical inputs, intrinsic circuits, and varied cellular morphology, suggests that functional connectivity is an important component of the cortex. Knowing the dynamics of cortical reorganization and the associated changes in functional connectivity will provide insight into the underlying mechanisms of cortical plasticity. This project will further the understanding of cortical plasticity and its relation to learning and frequency-specific hearing loss. The simultaneous spike-discharge activity of many units distributed throughout auditory cortex will be recorded chronically over several months to allow, for the first time, continuous measurement of the cortical frequency map and functional connectivity as the animal learns new tasks or adapts to restricted sensory inputs. This approach will be combined with experimental procedures that have been shown to induce frequency map reorganization in Al in order to directly measure the dynamics of auditory cortex plasticity. The outcome of this research will be a quantitative picture of auditory cortex plasticity expressed by changes in tuning and functional connectivity over time. Auditory cortex plasticity is one example of the plasticity that takes place throughout the CNS and is thought to be a substrate for learning in general. The cortical organization observed in awake cats will lead to new insight into the types of neural plasticity that may take place in adult humans that suffer a severe hearing loss. It will also ultimately contribute to the understanding of the effects of hearing aids and cochlear prostheses.