Postnatal development of frequency and intensity sensitivity of neurons in the anteroventral cochlear nucleus of kittens.

Tuning curves and spike count-vs.-intensity functions were derived form tone-burst responses of single neurons of the anteroventral cochlear nucleus of kittens 4-45 days of age. During the first postnatal week tuning curves are relatively shallow and thresholds are high. With advancing age there is a progressive reduction in threshold and sharpness of tuning. Sharpening of tuning during the first several weeks postpartum seems to be due to a differential reduction in threshold between CF and frequencies below CF. Spike count-vs.-intensity functions are steep in young kittens as compared to adults. During the first few postnatal weeks the dynamic range and shapes of the functions take on the characteristics of adult AVCN neurons.