Perceptual Learning Directs Auditory Cortical Map Reorganization through Top-Down Influences

摘要: The primary sensory cortex is positioned at a confluence of bottom-up dedicated inputs and top-down related to higher-order features, attentional state, behavioral reinforcement. We tested whether topographic map plasticity in the adult auditory secondary area, suprarhinal field, was controlled by statistics or task-dependent influences. Rats were trained attend independent parameters, either frequency intensity, within an identical set stimuli, allowing us vary task demands while holding constant. observed clear double-dissociation both cortical fields. cues exhibited expanded representation target range tonotopic but no change sound intensity encoding compared with controls. expressed increased proportion nonmonotonic response profiles preferentially tuned organization relative degree task-relevant stimulus dimension correlated perceptual learning for rats tasks. These data suggest that enduring receptive field may be shaped task-specific interact reinforcement-based neuromodulator release. Top-down might confer selectivity necessary modify single feature without affecting other spatially organized representations embedded same neural circuitry.