Figure 2. Critical periods for TC synaptic plasticity and cortical map plasticity in the ACx.
(a, b) TC LTP (a) and TC LTD (b) are readily expressed in young but not mature animals. (c) LTP and LTD expression as a function of age. This graph is based on data from previous studies (Crair and Malenka, 1995; Feldman and others, 1998; Jiang and others, 2007). (d) A representative cortical map of sound frequencies in the primary ACx of mice. (e) Changes in cortical map representation in the primary (A1) area of the ACx after 2 weeks of exposure to a 7-kHz sound in neonates and mature animals (* p<0.05) [adapted from (de Villers-Sidani and others, 2007)]. (f) Cortical map plasticity as a function of age. Abbreviations: D, dorsal; EPSP, excitatory postsynaptic potential; R, rostral; TR, thalamic radiation.