Correlates of Auditory Attention and Task Performance in Primary Auditory and Prefrontal Cortex

Auditory experience can reshape cortical maps and transform receptive field properties of neurons in the auditory cortex of the adult animal in a manner that depends on the behavioral context and the acoustic features of the stimuli. This has been shown in physiological and behavioral experiments, in which auditory cortical cells underwent rapid, context-dependent changes of their receptive field properties so as to sculpt the most effective shape for accomplishing the current auditory task. Here, we extend these findings to new behavioral paradigms (utilizing either positive or negative reinforcement) and explore the possible role of top-down signals from prefrontal cortex (PFC) in modulating plasticity in the primary auditory cortex. We also combine physiological experiments with microstimulation in PFC to test if it modulates cortical responses and receptive fields.