Journal
ENEURO
Volume 9, Issue 3, Pages -Publisher
SOC NEUROSCIENCE
DOI: 10.1523/ENEURO.0046-22.2022
Keywords
associative learning; auditory cortex; neural recordings; rats
Categories
Funding
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI [20J20997, 20H00109, 20H05020]
- Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research [20H00109, 20J20997, 20H05020] Funding Source: KAKEN
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The activity of primary auditory cortex neurons is selectively modulated by sensory inputs and rewards during the learning process of associative memory tasks. This selective activity enhances the formation and consolidation of associations.
The activity of primary auditory cortex (A1) neurons is modulated not only by sensory inputs but also by other task-related variables in associative learning. However, it is unclear how A1 neural activity changes dynamically in response to these variables during the learning process of associative memory tasks. Therefore, we developed an associative memory task using auditory stimuli in rats. In this task, rats were required to associate tone frequencies (high and low) with a choice of ports (right or left) to obtain a reward. The activity of A1 neurons in the rats during the learning process of the task was recorded. A1 neurons increased their firing rates either when the rats were presented with a high or low tone (frequency-selective cells) before they chose either the left or right port (choice-direction cells), or when they received a reward after choosing either the left or right port (reward-direction cells). Furthermore, the proportion of frequency-selective cells and reward-direction cells increased with task acquisition and reached the maximum level in the last stage of learning. These results suggest that A1 neurons have taskand learning-dependent selectivity toward sensory input and reward when auditory tones and behavioral responses are gradually associated during task training. This selective activity of A1 neurons may facilitate the formation of associations, leading to the consolidation of associative memory.
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