A5075878858- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Cell Image Analysis Techniques
- Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
- Neural Networks and Applications
- Advanced Memory and Neural Computing
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
- Marine animal studies overview
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Advancements in Semiconductor Devices and Circuit Design
- Axon Guidance and Neuronal Signaling
- Fusion and Plasma Physics Studies
- Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Advanced Scientific Research Methods
- Design Education and Practice
- Image Processing Techniques and Applications
- Protein Structure and Dynamics
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Electrostatic Discharge in Electronics
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
2023-2025
Amsterdam Neuroscience
2023-2025
Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior – caesar
2021-2024
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
2024
Jena University Hospital
2024
Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology
2009-2023
University of Lübeck
2023
Center of Advanced European Studies and Research
2016-2021
Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics
2012-2021
Max Planck Society
2009-2019
Soma location, dendrite morphology, and synaptic innervation may represent key determinants of functional responses individual neurons, such as sensory-evoked spiking. Here, we reconstruct the 3D circuits formed by thalamocortical afferents from lemniscal pathway excitatory neurons an anatomically defined cortical column in rat vibrissal cortex. We objectively classify 9 cell types estimate number distribution their somata, dendrites, synapses. Somata dendrites most intermingle, while...
This is the second article in a series of three studies that investigate anatomical determinants thalamocortical (TC) input to excitatory neurons cortical column rat primary somatosensory cortex (S1). Here, we report number and distribution NeuN-positive within C2, D2, D3 TC projection columns P27 barrel based on an exhaustive identification 89 834 somata 1.15 mm3 volume cortex. A single contained 19 109 ± 444 (17 560 399 when normalized standard-size column). Neuron density differences...
Models of cortical dynamics often assume a homogeneous connectivity structure. However, we show that heterogeneous input can prevent the dynamic balance between excitation and inhibition, hallmark dynamics, yield unrealistically sparse temporally regular firing. Anatomically based estimates layer 4 (L4) rat barrel cortex numerical simulations this circuit indicate local network possesses substantial heterogeneity in connectivity, sufficient to disrupt excitation-inhibition balance. We...
The cortical output layer 5 contains two excitatory cell types, slender- and thick-tufted neurons. In rat vibrissal cortex, slender-tufted neurons carry motion phase information during active whisking, but remain inactive after passive whisker touch. contrast, reliably increase spiking preferably By reconstructing the 3D patterns of intracortical axon projections from individual neurons, filled in vivo with biocytin, we were able to identify type-specific circuits that may encode Individual...
Vertical thalamocortical afferents give rise to the elementary functional units of sensory cortex, cortical columns. Principles that underlie communication between columns remain however unknown. Here we unravel these by reconstructing in vivo-labeled neurons from all excitatory cell types vibrissal part rat primary somatosensory cortex (vS1). Integrating morphologies into an exact 3D model vS1 revealed majority intracortical (IC) axons project far beyond borders principal column. We defined...
The sequential activation of neurons has been observed in various areas the brain, but no case is underlying network structure well understood. Here we examined circuit anatomy zebra finch HVC, a cortical region that generates sequences temporal progression song. We combined serial block-face electron microscopy with light to determine cell types targeted by HVC(RA) neurons, which control song timing. Close their soma, axons almost exclusively inhibitory interneurons, consistent what had...
The neurons in the cerebral cortex are not randomly interconnected. This specificity wiring can result from synapse formation mechanisms that connect neurons, depending on their electrical activity and genetically defined identity. Here, we report morphological properties of provide an additional prominent source by which emerges cortical networks. morphologically determined reflects similarities between neurons' axo-dendritic projections patterns, packing density, cellular diversity...
Significance Cortical columns are thought to be the elementary functional building blocks of sensory cortices. Here we show that cellular architecture cortical “barrel” in rodent somatosensory cortex is not stereotypic, but specific for each whisker on animals’ snout. Our findings challenge concepts underlying contemporary simulation efforts build up large-scale network models repeatedly occurring identical circuits.
The three-dimensional (3D) structure of neural circuits is commonly studied by reconstructing individual or small groups neurons in separate preparations. Investigation structural organization principles quantification dendritic and axonal innervation thus requires integration many reconstructed morphologies into a common reference frame. Here we present standardized 3D model the rat vibrissal cortex introduce an automated registration tool that allows for precise placement single neuron...
Pyramidal tract neurons (PTs) represent the major output cell type of mammalian neocortex. Here, we report origins PTs' ability to respond a broad range stimuli with onset latencies that rival or even precede those their intracortical input neurons. We find extensive horizontally projecting axons cluster around deep-layer terminal fields primary thalamocortical axons. The strategic location these corticocortical results in high convergence inputs, which drive reliable sensory-evoked...
Abstract Pyramidal tract neurons (PTs) represent the major output cell type of neocortex. To investigate principles how results cortical processing are broadcasted to different downstream targets thus requires experimental approaches, which provide access in vivo electrophysiology PTs, whose subcortical target regions identified. On example rat barrel cortex (vS1), we illustrate that retrograde tracer injections into multiple structures allow identifying long-range axonal individual recorded...
Sensory-evoked signal flow, at cellular and network levels, is primarily determined by the synaptic wiring of underlying neuronal circuitry. Measurements innervation, connection probabilities subcellular organization inputs are thus among most active fields research in contemporary neuroscience. Methods to measure these quantities range from electrophysiological recordings over reconstructions dendrite-axon overlap light-microscopic levels dense circuit small volumes electron-microscopic...
Abstract Diversity of cell-types that collectively shape the cortical microcircuit ensures necessary computational richness to orchestrate a wide variety behaviors. The information content embedded in spiking activity identified remain unclear large extent. Here, we recorded spike responses upon whisker touch anatomically excitatory primary somatosensory cortex naive, untrained rats. We find major differences across layers and cell-types. temporal structure spontaneous contains...
Neurons in cortical networks are very sparsely connected; even neurons whose axons and dendrites overlap highly unlikely to form a synaptic connection. What is the relevance of such sparse connectivity for network’s function? Surprisingly, it has been shown that impairs information processing artificial neural (ANNs). Does this imply also biological networks? Although ANNs were originally inspired by brain, conventional differ substantially their structural network architecture from...
What is the neural substrate that enables cerebral cortex to control a single mystacial vibrissa and orchestrate its movement? To answer this question, we injected rabies virus into intrinsic muscle protracts rat C3 used retrograde transneuronal transport identify cortical neurons muscle. A surprisingly diverse set of areas origin disynaptic over motoneurons influence protractor. More than two thirds these layer 5 pyramidal (L5PNs) are dispersed in frontal parietal outside primary motor...
A fundamental challenge in neuroscience is the determination of three-dimensional (3D) morphology neurons cortex. Here we describe a semiautomated method to trace single biocytin-filled using transmitted light brightfield microscope. The includes 3D tracing dendritic trees and axonal arbors from image stacks serial 100-µm-thick tangential brain sections. Key functionalities include mosaic scanning optical sectioning, high-resolution restoration, fast, parallel computing for neuron tracing....
Glycoprotein-deleted rabies virus (RABV ∆G) is a powerful tool for the analysis of neural circuits. Here, we demonstrate utility an anterograde RABV ∆G variant novel neuroanatomical approaches involving either bulk or sparse neuronal populations. This technology exploits unique features vectors, namely autonomous, rapid high-level expression transgenes, and limited cytotoxicity. Our vector permits unambiguous long-range fine-scale tracing entire axonal arbor individual neurons throughout...
Significance Even the simplest sensory stimulus activates millions of synapses across cortex. How neurons integrate these highly specialized, but noisy synaptic input patterns to generate robust electrophysiological responses—that ultimately translate into behavior—remains elusive. Here, we provide first insight a mechanism that may underlie general phenomenon, observed modalities and species, stimulation decreases variability in neuronal activity. Specifically, show during stimulation,...