PLASTICITY IN THE AUDITORY-SYSTEM OF MAMMALS

Plasticity of structure and function is a basic characteristic of deve loping auditory systems. Only recently it has been shown for mammals t hat, superimposed on innate maturation patterns, events in the acousti c environment can influence the development of the auditory system and shape its function in an adaptive way. This potential for a stimulati on-dependent plasticity during development has consequences for the pe rception of sound qualities in adults. The study of such consequences is an important open field for the future. In continuation of the deve lopmental plasticity, the adult auditory system, especially structures of the forebrain, maintain the potential for plasticity in response t o specific sound stimulation, for example, through acoustic learning. Lifelong fine tuning of representational maps of neuronal response pro perties seems to exist and we are only beginning to understand the mec hanisms behind this plasticity.