Inhibitory plasticity in a lateral band improves cortical detection of natural vocalizations.

Full Abstract

The interplay between excitation and inhibition in the auditory cortex is crucial for the processing of acoustic stimuli. However, the precise role that inhibition plays in the distributed cortical encoding of natural vocalizations has not been well studied. We recorded single units (SUs) and local field potentials (LFPs) in the awake mouse auditory cortex while presenting pup isolation calls to animals that either do (mothers) or do not (virgins) recognize the sounds as behaviorally relevant. In both groups, we observed substantial call-evoked inhibition. However, in mothers this was earlier, longer, stronger, and more stereotyped compared to virgins. This difference was most apparent for recording sites tuned to tone frequencies lower than the pup calls' high-ultrasonic frequency range. We hypothesize that this auditory cortical inhibitory plasticity improves pup call detection in a relatively specific manner by increasing the contrast between call-evoked responses arising from high-ultrasonic and lateral frequency neural populations.

Author information

Author/s: Galindo-Leon, Edgar E (EE); Lin, Frank G (FG); Liu, Robert C (RC);

Affiliation: Department of Biology, Emory University, 1510 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.

Grants: 008343 (Agency:PHS HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Journal: Neuron (Neuron), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Jun; vol 62 (issue 5) : pp 705-16

Dates: Created 2009/06/15; Completed 2009/06/26; Revised 2009/07/15;

PMID: 19524529, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 7/25/2009, IMS Date: 25 Jul 2009 00:00:00)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Neuron. 2009 Jun 11;62(5):605-7. (PMID: 19524519)

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.