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Modulation of frequency receptive field plasticity in rat auditory cortical neurons by electrical stimulation of medial prefrontal cortex

Yang Wenwei, Zhou Xiaoming, Zhang Jiping, Sun Xinde

College of Life Sciences,Research Center for Brain Science,East China Normal University.Shanghai 200062

Abstract

Using conventional electrophysiological technique, we investigated the effects of stimulating medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) on plasticity of frequency receptive field (RF) of auditory cortex (AC) neurons in rats. When mPFC was electrically stimulated, the RF plasticity of 51 (29.2%) neurons was not affected; the RF plasticity of 137 neurons (72.8%) was either inhibited (71 neurons, 37.7%) or facilitated (66 neurons, 35.1%). The modulation of mPFC on RF plasticity was dependent upon the time interval between acoustic and electrical stimuli. The best interval time that produced optimal modulation (inhibition or facilitation) ranged from 5 to 30 ms. The inhibitory modulation of mPFC prolonged RF shifting time course and shortened RF recovery time course. Conversely, the facilitatory modulation of mPFC shortened RF shifting time course and prolonged RF recovery time course. Our results suggest that the mPFC may affect the plasticity of functional activity of AC neurons, and also may participate in the process of auditory learning and memory.

Key words: medial prefrontal cortex;auditory cortex;frequency receptive field;plasticity;Rat

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Citing This Article：

Yang Wenwei, Zhou Xiaoming, Zhang Jiping, Sun Xinde. Modulation of frequency receptive field plasticity in rat auditory cortical neurons by electrical stimulation of medial prefrontal cortex. Acta Physiol Sin 2007; 59 (6): 784-790 (in Chinese with English abstract).