Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

An Integrative Model of Subcortical Auditory Plasticity

  • Review
  • Published:
Brain Topography Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In direct conflict with the concept of auditory brainstem nuclei as passive relay stations for behaviorally-relevant signals, recent studies have demonstrated plasticity of the auditory signal in the brainstem. In this paper we provide an overview of the forms of plasticity evidenced in subcortical auditory regions. We posit an integrative model of auditory plasticity, which argues for a continuous, online modulation of bottom-up signals via corticofugal pathways, based on an algorithm that anticipates and updates incoming stimulus regularities. We discuss the negative implications of plasticity in clinical dysfunction and propose novel methods of eliciting brainstem responses that could specify the biological nature of auditory processing deficits.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank members of the SoundBrain Lab and the Auditory Neuroscience Lab for their valuable comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. This work was supported by National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Grant R01 DC008333.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bharath Chandrasekaran.

Additional information

This is one of several papers published together in Brain Topography in the “Special Issue: Mismatch Negativity”.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chandrasekaran, B., Skoe, E. & Kraus, N. An Integrative Model of Subcortical Auditory Plasticity. Brain Topogr 27, 539–552 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10548-013-0323-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10548-013-0323-9

Keywords

Navigation