Early experiences can shape neuronal circuitry and long-term memory. One example of this is the development of the auditory map in owls. Young owls were fitted with goggles that shifted their visual world. When the synaptic terminals of ICC to ICX were examined, owls raised with prisms had substantially expanded projections compared to owls raised without prisms. Based on this long-lasting change in neuronal connectivity, what do you think would happen if prisms were put back onto an adult owl that was initially reared with the prisms?
A) The adult owl would not be able match the auditory and visual target because there would be a mismatch between the auditory terminals and visual terminals in the tectum since this was set up incorrectly when the bird was a juvenile.
B) The adult owl would not be able to match auditory and visual terminals because the auditory input and the visual input would have been re-segregated and there would no longer be overlap.
C) The adult owl would be able to relearn and match auditory input to the shifted visual input due to a regrowth of those synapses.
D) The adult owl would be able to relearn and match auditory input to the shifted visual input because the connections are maintained.
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Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The circuitry is set up early in development and once the animal is past the critical period the circuit remains relatively stable. When owls are given the prisms later in adulthood they are able to readjust their visual and auditory fields. The prisms have to shift the visual field the same amount as they did in the juvenile. This cannot be accomplished by animals who did not adapt to prisms early in development.

Early Experiences Can Shape Neuronal Circuitry and Long-Term Memory