Contributions of the thalamocortical system towards sound-specific auditory plasticity

► Cortical plasticity is guided by the changes in sensory inputs. ► Point-to-point innervation features the thalamocortical system. ► Thalamocortical system plays an instructional role in highly specific cortical plasticity. ► Thalamocortical LTP/LTD may underlie the frequency-specific plasticity of the auditory cortex.