Deafness Weakens Interareal Couplings in the Auditory Cortex.

摘要: The function of the cerebral cortex essentially depends on ability to form functional assemblies across different cortical areas serving functions. Here we investigated how developmental hearing experience affects and effective interareal connectivity in auditory an animal model with years-long complete deprivation (deafness) from birth, congenitally deaf cat (CDC). Using intracortical multielectrode arrays, neuronal activity adult controls CDCs was registered primary secondary posterior field (PAF). Ongoing as well responses acoustic stimulation (in controls) electric applied via cochlear implants CDCs) were analyzed. As measures pairwise phase consistency Granger causality used. While number coupled sites nearly identical between CDCs, a reduced coupling strength higher order found under stimulation. Such stimulus-related decoupling particularly pronounced alpha band top-down direction. did not show such decoupling. These findings suggest that is essential for interactions during sensory processing. outcomes demonstrate corticocortical couplings, connectivity, are compromised following congenital deprivation.