Expanded domain of learning-induced primary auditory cortical plasticity

学习引起的初级听觉皮层可塑性的扩展领域

基本信息

批准号：
7563966
负责人：
Kasia Bieszczad
金额：
$ 2.41万
依托单位：
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
财政年份：
2008
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2008-02-01 至 2009-09-30
项目状态：
已结题

项目摘要

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Auditory learning is accompanied by specific physiological plasticity in the primary auditory cortex (A1). The processing and representation of acoustic frequencies and other acoustic parameters that gain behavioral importance through learning are generally emphasized, e.g., by selective decreased threshold or tuning shifts to the frequency of a reinforced stimulus. Research in learning-induced auditory plasticity has mainly focused on determinations of which acoustic parameters are affected (e.g., frequency, level, FM modulation). Recent studies indicate that there is a need to take into account non-auditory factors. The goals of this research project are to determine some of the factors that influence the induction of associative learning-induced cortical plasticity and to investigate the functional behavioral effects of the development of such specific plasticity. The proposed experiments were designed after initial research showed that the development of specific plasticity in A1 was determined not by the magnitude of learning or the amount of learning about absolute frequency, but rather by the type of learning strategy used to solve the apparently simple problem of bar-pressing for water, contingent on the presence of a tone. I will investigate factors that are likely to play important roles in governing frequency-specific plasticity in the primary auditory cortex in auditory associative memory: learning strategy and amount of training. I will also explore possible behavioral functional effects of learning-induced cortical plasticity: improved perceptual detectability and stronger memory. Instrumental conditioning of rats to bar-press for water rewards contingent upon tone presentations will be used to study learning, specificity of behavior and the strength and specificity of associative memory. Complete electrophysiological recordings across the entire rat hearing frequency range in primary auditory cortex will be used to correlate tuning changes with behavior. The findings will help to illuminate some of the learning influences on specific auditory cortical plasticity (learning strategy, length of training) and establish its relationship to behavior both perceptually (conditioned stimulus detectability) and mnemonically (strength of associative memory). Findings from the proposed studies could be used towards the development of auditory learning therapies for use after artificial cochlear implantation in humans to help acquire higher-level auditory function. The results from the proposed experiments could also lead to the development of ideal non-invasive therapies using learning tasks that induce cortical plasticity for regain of function after stroke, or other cortical destruction.

描述（由申请人提供）：听觉学习伴随着主要听觉皮层中的特定生理可塑性（A1）。通常强调通过学习来获得行为重要性的声频率和其他声学参数的处理和表示，例如，通过选择性降低阈值或调整调整向增强刺激的频率的选择性降低。学习引起的听觉可塑性的研究主要集中于确定哪些声学参数受到影响（例如频率，级别，FM调制）。最近的研究表明，有必要考虑非审计因素。该研究项目的目标是确定影响诱导联想学习引起的皮质可塑性的一些因素，并研究这种特定可塑性发展的功能行为效应。在初步研究表明，A1中特定可塑性的发展不是由学习的幅度或对绝对频率的学习量确定的，而是通过用于解决水面压榨水的明确简单问题的类型来确定的。我将研究可能在听觉关联记忆中主要听觉皮层中特定于频率的可塑性中起重要作用的因素：学习策略和训练量。我还将探讨学习引起的皮质可塑性的可能行为功能效应：改善感知性可检测性和更强的记忆力。大鼠的工具条件是对水奖励的条件，以取决于语调的表现，将用于研究学习，行为的特异性以及联想记忆的强度和特异性。一级听觉皮层中整个大鼠听力频率范围内的完整电生理记录将用于将调谐变化与行为相关联。这些发现将有助于阐明对特定听觉皮质可塑性（学习策略，训练的长度）的某些学习影响，并在感知上（条件刺激可检测性）和表现（联想记忆的强度）建立与行为的关系。拟议的研究的发现可用于开发在人类人工耳蜗植入人类后使用的听觉学习疗法，以帮助获得更高层次的听觉功能。提出的实验的结果也可能导致使用学习任务的理想非侵入性疗法的发展，这些任务诱导皮质可塑性在中风后恢复或其他皮质破坏。