Silencing cortical activity during sound-localization training impairs auditory perceptual learning.

ABSTRACT: The brain has a remarkable capacity to adapt to changes in sensory inputs and to learn from experience. However, the neural circuits responsible for this flexible processing remain poorly understood. Using optogenetic silencing of ArchT-expressing neurons in adult ferrets, we show that within-trial activity in primary auditory cortex (A1) is required for training-dependent recovery in sound-localization accuracy following monaural deprivation. Because localization accuracy under normal-hearing conditions was unaffected, this highlights a specific role for cortical activity in learning. A1-dependent plasticity appears to leave a memory trace that can be retrieved, facilitating adaptation during a second period of monaural deprivation. However, in ferrets in which learning was initially disr

SUBMITTER: Bajo VM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6625986 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature