New perspectives on the auditory cortex: learning and memory

Handbook of Clinical Neurology
Norman M Weinberger

Abstract

Primary ("early") sensory cortices have been viewed as stimulus analyzers devoid of function in learning, memory, and cognition. However, studies combining sensory neurophysiology and learning protocols have revealed that associative learning systematically modifies the encoding of stimulus dimensions in the primary auditory cortex (A1) to accentuate behaviorally important sounds. This "representational plasticity" (RP) is manifest at different levels. The sensitivity and selectivity of signal tones increase near threshold, tuning above threshold shifts toward the frequency of acoustic signals, and their area of representation can increase within the tonotopic map of A1. The magnitude of area gain encodes the level of behavioral stimulus importance and serves as a substrate of memory strength. RP has the same characteristics as behavioral memory: it is associative, specific, develops rapidly, consolidates, and can last indefinitely. Pairing tone with stimulation of the cholinergic nucleus basalis induces RP and implants specific behavioral memory, while directly increasing the representational area of a tone in A1 produces matching behavioral memory. Thus, RP satisfies key criteria for serving as a substrate of auditory memory....Continue Reading

Citations

Dec 17, 2016·Learning & Memory·Mattis B WigestrandRobert M Sears
Jan 30, 2018·Frontiers in Neural Circuits·Shea N GilletJeffry S Isaacson
Jun 5, 2019·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Horst SchicknickWolfgang Tischmeyer
Oct 16, 2018·Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience·Wibke SingerMarlies Knipper
Jun 8, 2017·Frontiers in Psychology·Shannon L M HealdHoward C Nusbaum
Apr 18, 2018·Learning & Memory·Michelle T TongThomas A Cleland
Jan 16, 2021·Journal of Personalized Medicine·Tsutomu TakahashiMichio Suzuki
Sep 12, 2020·World Neurosurgery·Alison HoDeependra Mahato
Mar 27, 2021·British Journal of Pharmacology·Philine MarchettaMarlies Knipper
May 8, 2021·Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience·Tsutomu TakahashiMichio Suzuki

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