Activation of a Cortical Column by a Thalamocortical Impulse

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.22-17-07766.2002
• Publication Date: 2018-04-13T22:27:17Z
• Authors: Harvey A. Swadlow; Alexander G. Gusev; Tatiana Bezdudnaya
• Keywords: Cerebral Cortex; Neurons; 0301 basic medicine; Action Potentials; Somatosensory Cortex; Synaptic Transmission; Electrodes, Implanted; 03 medical and health sciences; Thalamus; Neural Pathways; Reaction Time; Animals; Female; Rabbits; Wakefulness; Microelectrodes

Thalamocortical (TC) impulses potently influence the sensory neocortex, but functional impact of individual TC neurons throughout layers cortex has proved difficult to assess. Here we examine, in awake rabbits, vertical distribution monosynaptic currents generated a somatosensory cortical "barrel" column by spontaneous single, topographically aligned neurons. We show that closely neighboring generate widely differing patterns activation within 4 and 6 their column. Moreover, synaptic with long preceding interspike intervals are greatly enhanced both these layers. The degree this enhancement differs reliably among but, for given neuron, is very similar 6. Our results indicate state, synapses depth serve as powerful filters information reflect characteristics parent neuron.