ANALYSIS OF SPACE BY THE AUDITORY SYSTEM

经验在塑造结构和 发育中的中枢神经系统的功能特性。当 经验是丰富和正常的，它会导致大脑优化， 个人 然而，当经验长期不正常时， 疾病、缺陷、损伤或功能障碍的后果，例如， 经验可能导致异常的结构和功能。 为许多 受敏感期影响的途径，这些影响导致 永久性神经残疾拟议的研究调查， 在系统、细胞和分子水平上， 中枢听觉系统的发展 研究的重点是 处理空间信息的途径， 相对细节 经验对这些途径的影响是 戏剧性的和容易量化的。 仓鸮被研究是因为 空间处理途径在这方面发展得特别好， 种，并建立了敏感期。细胞外 神经生理学，药理学和解剖学技术将是 结合双耳分听刺激来表征 异常感觉经验和听觉能力的影响 在恢复正常之后恢复正常功能的系统 体验. 两种不同感官挑战的效果将是 比较：视力异常和听力异常。 在中脑空间 加工途径，其中可塑性的网站是已知的， 研究强调可塑性的细胞和分子机制 和敏感期（解剖重组的作用，具体 神经递质受体、神经营养素和性类固醇）。 还 解剖学来源和支配这一指导信号的性质 将探索可塑性。在前脑空间处理通路中， 这项研究集中于确定可塑性的部位， 表征塑性的性质。本研究旨在 提供一个机械的理解经验的影响， 发展中的中央听觉系统神经元方面的知识 以及这些变化是如何 可能会导致许多改善的治疗策略， 患有或长期患有 不正常的感官体验 此外，研究结果应该告诉我们， 关于中央银行的正常结构、功能和发展， 听觉系统

Experience plays a critical role in shaping the structural and functional properties of the developing central nervous system. When experience is rich and normal, it leads to a brain that is optimized for the individual. When experience is chronically abnormal, however, as a consequence of disease, defects, injury or dysfunction, for example, experience can lead to abnormal structure and function. For the many pathways that are subject to sensitive periods, these effects result in permanent neurological disability. The proposed research investigates, at the systems, cellular and molecular levels, the effects of experience on the developing central auditory system. The research focuses on the pathways that process spatial information, pathways that are known in relative detail. The effects of experience on these pathways are dramatic and readily quantified. The barn owl is studied because the space processing pathways are particularly well developed in this species, and the sensitive periods have been established. Extracellular neurophysiological, pharmacological and anatomical techniques will be combined with dichotic sound stimulation to characterize both the effects of abnormal sensory experience and the ability of the auditory system to recover normal function following restoration of normal experience. The effects of two different sensory challenges will be compared: abnormal vision and abnormal hearing. In the midbrain space processing pathway, where sites of plasticity are already known, the research emphasizes the cellular and molecular mechanisms of plasticity and sensitive periods (the roles of anatomical reorganization, specific neurotransmitter receptors, neurotrophins, and sex steroids). Also, the anatomical source and nature of the instructive signal that governs this plasticity will be explored. In the forebrain space processing pathway, the research concentrates on identifying sites of plasticity and characterizing the properties of the plasticity. This research aims to provide a mechanistic understanding of the effects of experience on the developing central auditory system. Knowledge of the aspects of neuronal connectivity that are altered by experience and how these alterations are implemented may lead to improved therapeutic strategies for the many individuals who suffer from or have suffered from prolonged periods of abnormal sensory experience. In addition, the results should teach us much about the normal structure, function and development of the central auditory system.