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Contrast Enhancement without Transient Map Expansion for Species-Specific Vocalizations in Core Auditory Cortex
Kathryn N Shepard1, Kelly K Chong2, Robert C Liu3
1Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322; Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322.
Eneuro
|December 14, 2016
Summary
Auditory cortex map expansion is not a universal memory trace for learning. Maternal experience in mice shows suppressed low-frequency activity instead of map changes for pup ultrasonic vocalizations.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Neuroplasticity
Background:
- Tonotopic map plasticity in the auditory cortex (AC) is a known indicator of auditory associative learning.
- Recent studies question if map expansion is a lasting memory trace, suggesting it might be transient.
- Previous research found no map expansion for ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) in maternal behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if transient auditory cortex map expansion occurs during maternal experience with pup USVs.
- To determine the generality of cortical map expansion as a correlate for auditory learning in an ethological context.
Main Methods:
- Mapping the auditory cortices of maternal mice at key postnatal developmental stages.
- Assessing brain activity in response to playback of ultrasounds and pup USVs.
- Analyzing changes in frequency tuning and neural activity patterns.
Main Results:
- No evidence of frequency map expansion in the AC for behaviorally relevant ultrasound frequencies was found.
- Regions tuned to lower frequencies showed increased suppression of activity in response to USVs.
- A lateral-band suppression mechanism was identified, potentially enhancing signal-to-noise ratio for meaningful USVs.
Conclusions:
- Auditory cortex map enlargement has limitations as a model for neural memory traces in ethological auditory learning.
- Experience-dependent neural changes in auditory cortex may involve mechanisms beyond simple map expansion.
- Lateral-band suppression is a key mechanism for processing behaviorally significant sounds like pup USVs.
