Plasticity of Spectral Processing

• Published in: International Review of Neurobiology Vol. 70; pp. 435 - 472
• Main Authors: Irvine, Dexter R.F., Wright, Beverly A.
• Format: Book Chapter Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Science & Technology 2005
• Subjects: Acoustic Stimulation - methods; Animals; Auditory Cortex - cytology; Discrimination (Psychology) - physiology; Humans; Neuronal Plasticity - physiology; Neurons - physiology; Neurophysiology - methods; Psychophysics - methods; Spectrum Analysis
• ISBN: 9780123668714; 0123668719
• ISSN: 0074-7742; 2162-5514
• DOI: 10.1016/S0074-7742(05)70013-1

This chapter reviews the evidence from physiological and psychophysical studies for plasticity in spectral processing, the mechanisms underlying this plasticity, and its therapeutic applications. Before examining this evidence, the nature of the changes that constitute evidence of plasticity requires consideration. It must be acknowledged, however, that there remains a substantial division between the human psychophysical and animal electrophysiological evidence for such plasticity. The bulk of the human psychophysical evidence has been derived from studies of perceptual learning on basic frequency discrimination or more complex spectral processing tasks. In contrast, the overwhelming bulk of animal electrophysiological evidence has been derived from studies of behavioral conditioning or of injury-induced plasticity. A substantial body of evidence has demonstrated that the spectral processing ability of human and animal listeners and the response characteristics of neurons in circuits at higher brain levels that are involved in auditory spectral processing can be modified by experience. This plasticity can occur because of particular forms of training or perceptual experience, or because of damage to the cochlea that results in changes in input to the central nervous system and in partial hearing loss.