title: Basal forebrain stimulation modifies auditory cortex responsiveness by an action at muscarinic receptors.
abstract: We have hypothesized that auditory cortex plasticity involves modification of thalamocortical transmission by basal forebrain (BF) cholinergic neurons, and that this action may involve muscarinic receptors. In a first test of this hypothesis, we report that BF stimulation can suppress or facilitate, depending on the intensity of stimulation, auditory cortical responses elicited by thalamic stimulation. BF-mediated facilitation is antagonized by atropine, implicating muscarinic receptors. These data suggest that BF cholinergic neurons functionally modify auditory cortex by regulating thalamocortical transmission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside 92521.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Metherate
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ashe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013788:Thalamus / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D001285:Atropine