Acoustical enrichment during early postnatal development changes response properties of inferior colliculus neurons in rats

0435620 - ÚEM 2015 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Bureš, Zbyněk - Bartošová, Jolana - Lindovský, Jiří - Chumak, Tetyana - Popelář, Jiří - Syka, Josef
Acoustical enrichment during early postnatal development changes response properties of inferior colliculus neurons in rats.
European Journal of Neuroscience. Roč. 40, č. 11 (2014), s. 3674-3683. ISSN 0953-816X. E-ISSN 1460-9568
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GAP303/12/1347; GA ČR(CZ) GBP304/12/G069; GA MŠMT EE2.3.30.0018
Institutional support: RVO:68378041
Keywords : attention-dependent plasticity * auditory system * critical period
Subject RIV: FH - Neurology
Impact factor: 3.181, year: 2014

This study explores the effects of an acoustically enriched environment applied during the third and fourth week of life on the responsiveness of inferior colliculus neurons in rats. The exposure permanently influenced neuronal representation of the sound frequency and intensity, resulting in lower excitatory thresholds at neuronal characteristic frequency, an increased frequency selectivity, larger response magnitudes, steeper rate-intensity functions and an increased spontaneous activity. These findings indicate that a rich and stimulating acoustic environment during early development, particularly when reinforced by positive feedback, may permanently affect signal processing in the subcortical auditory nuclei.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0240967