PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Hans Sperup Brünner
AU  - Rune Rasmussen
TI  - Does Size Really Matter? The Role of Tonotopic Map Area Dynamics for Sound Learning in Mouse Auditory Cortex
AID  - 10.1523/ENEURO.0002-17.2017
DP  - 2017 Jan 01
TA  - eneuro
PG  - ENEURO.0002-17.2017
VI  - 4
IP  - 1
4099  - http://www.eneuro.org/content/4/1/ENEURO.0002-17.2017.short
4100  - http://www.eneuro.org/content/4/1/ENEURO.0002-17.2017.full
SO  - eNeuro2017 Jan 01; 4
AB  - This commentary centers on the novel findings by Shepard et al. (2016) published in eNeuro. The authors interrogated tonotopic map dynamics in auditory cortex (ACtx) by employing a natural sound-learning paradigm, where mothers learn the importance of pup ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), allowing Shepard et al. to probe the role of map area expansion for auditory learning. They demonstrate that auditory learning in this paradigm does not rely on map expansion but is facilitated by increased inhibition of neurons tuned to low-frequency sounds. Here, we discuss the findings in light of the emerging enthusiasm for cortical inhibitory interneurons for circuit function and hypothesize how a particular interneuron type might be causally involved for the intriguing results obtained by Shepard et al.