Cholinergic modulation of experience-dependent plasticity in human auditory cortex

Neuron. 2002 Aug 1;35(3):567-74. doi: 10.1016/s0896-6273(02)00801-2.

Abstract

The factors that influence experience-dependent plasticity in the human brain are unknown. We used event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a pharmacological manipulation to measure cholinergic modulation of experience-dependent plasticity in human auditory cortex. In a differential aversive conditioning paradigm, subjects were presented with high (1600 Hz) and low tones (400 Hz), one of which was conditioned by pairing with an electrical shock. Prior to presentation, subjects were given either a placebo or an anticholinergic drug (0.4 mg iv scopolamine). Experience-dependent plasticity, expressed as a conditioning-specific enhanced BOLD response, was evident in auditory cortex in the placebo group, but not with scopolamine. This study provides in vivo evidence that experience-dependent plasticity, evident in hemodynamic changes in human auditory cortex, is modulated by acetylcholine.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholine / metabolism*
  • Acoustic Stimulation
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Auditory Cortex / anatomy & histology
  • Auditory Cortex / drug effects
  • Auditory Cortex / physiology*
  • Auditory Perception / drug effects
  • Auditory Perception / physiology*
  • Auditory Threshold / drug effects
  • Auditory Threshold / physiology
  • Basal Nucleus of Meynert / drug effects
  • Basal Nucleus of Meynert / physiology*
  • Brain Mapping
  • Cholinergic Fibers / drug effects
  • Cholinergic Fibers / physiology*
  • Conditioning, Psychological / drug effects
  • Conditioning, Psychological / physiology
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality / drug effects
  • Functional Laterality / physiology
  • Humans
  • Learning / drug effects
  • Learning / physiology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Muscarinic Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Neuronal Plasticity / drug effects
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
  • Reaction Time / drug effects
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Scopolamine / pharmacology
  • Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology

Substances

  • Muscarinic Antagonists
  • Scopolamine
  • Acetylcholine