Developmentally degraded cortical temporal processing restored by training

Abstract

Enduring deficits in temporal processing can be induced in the auditory cortex by rearing infant rats in the presence of low frequency-modulated noises. We found that it was possible to restore normal temporal processing, overcoming deficits induced during the critical period, by intensively training developmentally impaired animals as juveniles or young adults. Re-normalized cortical temporal response characteristics were sustained long after training cessation. © 2009 Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved.