Patterned neural activity in brain stem auditory areas of a ... : NeuroReport (original) (raw)
Developmental Neuroscience: PDF Only
Patterned neural activity in brain stem auditory areas of a prehearing mammal, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii)
Developmental Neurobiology Group, Research School of Biological Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
Abstract
Is patterned neural activity in immature, prefunctioning sensory systems a general phenomenon? Such patterning has been found in the prenatal visual and somatosensory systems. We have now identified patterning in the immature auditory system of a prehearing mammal, the tammar wallaby. Neurones recorded in vivo from the eighth nerve and cochlear nucleus at pouch days 94–122 discharged in bursts with rhythmic inter-spike intervals. Our findings are applied to the argument that neural activity is vital to sensory development.
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