Long-lasting enhancement of sound discrimination ability after sound exposure in rats

Changes in the sound discrimination ability of rats were investigated after sound exposure (SE) in a Skinner box. For estimation of the sound discrimination ability, two different amplitude-modulated (AM) sounds (S+ and S-) were presented to the rats deprived of water for 48 h. Pedal press behavior in response to only S+ was rewarded with water. The percentages of trials in which pedal press behavior occurred in response to S+ or S- were calculated separately, and test performance of the rats was determined from the difference between the percentages. Rats were exposed to AM sounds during SE of 48 h, and the sound discrimination test was carried out. Enhancement of discrimination between S+ and S- was elicited by SE in a stimulus-specific manner. Latent extinction of the pedal press behavior in response to sound stimuli was not clearly found after SE. The enhancement of test performance was detected 1-48 h after the cessation of SE, and was blocked by injection of an antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors into the auditory cortex bilaterally, immediately before the initiation of SE. These results suggest that SE elicits enhancement of sound discrimination ability, and the responsible site is in the auditory cortex.