Congenitally deaf cats were used as a model for human inborn deafness and auditory deprivation. The deaf cats were supplied with a cochlear implant, chronically exposed to an acoustic environment and conditioned to acoustic stimuli. In case of early implantation the cats learned to make use of the newly gained auditory channel behaviourally. Neurophysiological and fMRI data showed that the central auditory system was recruited, if implantation took place within a sensitive period of <6 months.
Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel