Maturational time course of the envelope following response to amplitude-modulated acoustic signals in rats

Abstract

Objective: The maturation pattern of the envelope following response (EFR) was described using rats as an experimental model. Design: EFRs were recorded in animals at different postnatal ages (15, 20, 25, 35, and 70 postnatal days) in response to broadband noise (BBN) and tones of 8000 and 4000 Hz modulated in amplitude using a continuous sweep of modulation frequencies. Responses were analysed in the 90–190 Hz modulation frequency (MF) range. Study sample: Forty individuals (eight individuals for each age bracket) were included in the present study. Results: During maturation, the MF at which the maximum amplitude was obtained (BMF, best modulation frequency) shifted to higher values when animals were stimulated with tones. At the same time, the amplitude of the response at the BMF increased. For every group of animals, the amplitude of the response continuously decreased for MFs higher than the BMF. However, less steep decreases of amplitude were obtained as animals became adults. Conclusions: These results provide normative data regarding the maturation of the EFR in rats. They provide information for the development of predictor models to estimate the temporal resolution of the auditory system during maturation.

Key Words::

• Auditory temporal processing
• envelope following response
• maturation
• temporal modulation transfer function
• rats

Acknowledgements

Aspects of this research have been previously presented in abstract form (Maturation of the Envelope Following Response, NEUROLATAM, Brazil, 2008). Terrence Picton and co-workers of the Rotman Research Institute (Ontario, Canada), Maria C. Perez-Abalo, Anthony Williams, Colette Mckay, Idrick Akhoun, Peter Seligman, Teresa Diez, Terry Ann Hinds, Sheila Fidler, and Valia Rodriguez have all made important contributions to this work, for which we are most grateful.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.