DYNAMIC PLASTICITY IN AUDITORY CORTEX

描述：这个项目研究的是 听觉皮质。而小学阶段频率图的重组 在早期的研究中，听觉皮质已经完全建立，这些 发生的变化是未知的。皮质重组主要被揭示出来 通过皮层频率图得出的多次穿透 急性制剂中的单电极，但这些记录不能 测量功能连通性。脊椎骨的复杂解剖结构 初级听觉皮质，包括广泛的丘脑皮质输入， 内在电路和不同的细胞形态表明， 连通性是大脑皮层的重要组成部分。了解动态 皮质重组和相关的功能改变 连接性将提供对大脑皮质的潜在机制的洞察 可塑性。该项目将进一步加深对大脑皮层的理解 可塑性及其与学习和频率特异性听力损失的关系。 分布多个单元的同时尖峰放电活动 整个听觉皮质将在几个月内被慢性记录 第一次允许连续测量大脑皮层 当动物学习新的任务时，频率图和功能连接 适应受限的感官输入。这一方法将与 已被证明能诱导频率图的实验程序 为了直接测量听觉的动力学，在Al中进行重组 皮质可塑性。这项研究的结果将是一个量化的 听觉皮质可塑性由调谐和调谐的变化表示的图像 随着时间的推移实现功能连接。听觉皮质的可塑性是其中之一 发生在整个CNS并被认为是可塑性的例子 成为学习的基础。大脑皮层组织 在清醒的猫身上观察将导致对神经类型的新洞察 可能发生在听力严重的成年人身上的可塑性 损失。它最终也将有助于理解 助听器和人工耳蜗术的效果。

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.