Plasticity in the neural coding of auditory space in the mammalian brain

Sound localization relies on the neural processing of monaural and binaural spatial cues that arise from the way sounds interact with the head and external ears. Neurophysiological studies of animals raised with abnormal sensory inputs show that the map of auditory space in the superior colliculus is shaped during development by both auditory and visual experience. An example of this plasticity is provided by monaural occlusion during infancy, which leads to compensatory changes in auditory spatial tuning that tend to preserve the alignment between the neural representations of visual and auditory space. Adaptive changes also take place in sound localization behavior, as demonstrated by the fact that ferrets raised and tested with one ear plugged learn to localize as accurately as control animals. In both cases, these adjustments may involve greater use of monaural spectral cues provided by the other ear. Although plasticity in the auditory space map seems to be restricted to development, adult ferrets show some recovery of sound localization behavior after long-term monaural occlusion. The capacity for behavioral adaptation is, however, task dependent, because auditory spatial acuity and binaural unmasking (a measure of the spatial contribution to the “cocktail party effect”) are permanently impaired by chronically plugging one ear, both in infancy but especially in adulthood. Experience-induced plasticity allows the neural circuitry underlying sound localization to be customized to individual characteristics, such as the size and shape of the head and ears, and to compensate for natural conductive hearing losses, including those associated with middle ear disease in infancy.

Handing Down and Adaption: The Construction of the Material World of Health Care Technology in Spain (1855-1955)

This historical study uses qualitative methods to analyze and describe the components of the material world of nursing care in Spain between 1855 and 1955 based on the analysis of eight nurse training manuals. A total of 360 objects and 45 procedures were recorded. Manual analysis was carried out concurrently with data collection based on the Grounded Theory approach. Findings show that the material world of health care was composed of objects that were handed down by the medical profession to health care professionals and adapted objects, improvised mainly out of everyday household items. While the handing down of medical tools and instruments could be said to be a theoretical and technical achievement, it is not clear whether it was also a scientific accomplishment. The improvisation of objects out of everyday household items promoted by the manuals highlights the artisan-like and ingenious nature of nursing practice, which should be explored further in future studies to provide a greater understanding and promote the recognition of these objects as a health care technology.

Will of the Rev. Andrew Croswell, 1785 November

This folder contains three handwritten copies of the November 8, 1785, will of Andrew Croswell and a copy of the inventory of Croswell's estate.

Copy of Andrew Croswell's executor's account, 1788 June 2

One-leaf account of the disbursements of the estate of Andrew Croswell presented to the judge of probate for Suffolk County, Massachusetts.

Note from William Croswell to President Kirkland and the Corporation of Harvard College, 1817-1821

This folder contains six documents: three drafts of a brief March 10, 1817, note to Harvard President John Kirkland, with two of the drafts followed by an October 25, 1819, note to the Harvard College Corporation concerning Croswell's work on Harvard's Library Catalogue.

Letter from William Croswell to Hannah Colesworthy, 1817 June 21

Draft of a one-page letter regarding the death of Colesworthy's mother.

Letter from William Croswell to Daniel P. Colesworthy, 1817 October 4

Copy of a one-page letter concerning the payment of a bill.

Letter from William Croswell to Andrew Croswell, 1828 June 20

Draft of a letter to Croswell's nephew regarding the family's history.

Housing advertisements, 1817; 1822

This folder contains an 1817 handwritten newspaper wanted advertisement for lodging and an 1822 newspaper advertisement paid for by Croswell for lodging and work as a copyist.

Plan for the arrangement of the catalogue of the University Library, [1817 January]

Six-page handwritten draft of an organization plan for the catalogue of the Harvard University Library.

Plan for the arrangement of the catalogue of the University Library (printed), 1817 January

Printed broadside containing an organization plan for the catalogue of the Harvard University Library.

Diary entries related to Library employment, 1816-1817

Four pages containing brief entries related to Croswell's employment in the Harvard College Library.