title: Patterned neural activity in brain stem auditory areas of a prehearing mammal, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii).
abstract: Is patterned neural activity in immature, prefunctioning sensory systems a general phenomenon? Such patterning has been found in the prenatal visual and somatosensory systems. We have now identified patterning in the immature auditory system of a prehearing mammal, the tammar wallaby. Neurones recorded in vivo from the eighth nerve and cochlear nucleus at pouch days 94-122 discharged in bursts with rhythmic inter-spike intervals. Our findings are applied to the argument that neural activity is vital to sensory development.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Neurobiology Group, Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Gummer
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Mark
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D017626:Cochlear Nucleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology*; D007614:Macropodidae / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D000159:Vestibulocochlear Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology