The cortical component of experience-dependent synaptic plasticity in the rat barrel cortex.

摘要: Rats were raised with altered tactile experience from P0 by removing all but one vibrissa (D1) side of the face (D1-spared animals). This procedure (univibrissa rearing) has previously been shown to cause neurons in cortical barrels surrounding D1 develop greater than normal responses stimulation and smaller principal (Fox, 1992). In this study, it was found that potentiated could be attenuated acute microlesions placed barrel, while unchanged or even slightly elevated for same cases. The ratio average response approximately proportional volume tissue damaged barrel. result implies synaptic plasticity seen cortex D1-spared animals is due changes take place within barrel rather relay occurring at a subcortical level. addition, lesions aimed septum between an adjacent almost completely abolished including short-latency (5–10 msec). Only severed horizontally affected. Neurons maintained connection via bridge septal preserved their usual levels aberrant responses. pathways radiating out barrel/column, connecting cells barrels, undergo induced univibrissa rearing.