Synaptic computation and sensory processing in neocortical layer 2/3
- PMID: 23583106
- DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2013.03.020
Synaptic computation and sensory processing in neocortical layer 2/3
Abstract
Computations in neocortical circuits are predominantly driven by synaptic integration of excitatory glutamatergic and inhibitory GABAergic inputs. New optical, electrophysiological, and genetic methods allow detailed in vivo investigation of the superficial neocortical layers 2 and 3 (L2/3). Here, we review current knowledge of mouse L2/3 sensory cortex, focusing on somatosensory barrel cortex with comparisons to visual and auditory cortex. Broadly tuned, dense subthreshold synaptic input accompanied by sparse action potential (AP) firing in excitatory neurons provides a simple and reliable neural code useful for associative learning. Sparse AP firing is enforced by strong inhibition from genetically defined classes of GABAergic neurons. Subnetworks of strongly and specifically connected excitatory neurons may drive L2/3 network function, with potential contributions from dendritic spikes evoked by spatiotemporally clustered synaptic input. These functional properties of L2/3 are under profound regulation by brain state and behavior, providing interesting avenues for future mechanistic investigations into context-specific processing of sensory information.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Similar articles
-
Microcircuits of excitatory and inhibitory neurons in layer 2/3 of mouse barrel cortex.J Neurophysiol. 2012 Jun;107(11):3116-34. doi: 10.1152/jn.00917.2011. Epub 2012 Mar 7. J Neurophysiol. 2012. PMID: 22402650
-
The excitatory neuronal network of the C2 barrel column in mouse primary somatosensory cortex.Neuron. 2009 Jan 29;61(2):301-16. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2008.12.020. Neuron. 2009. PMID: 19186171
-
In vivo optogenetic stimulation of neocortical excitatory neurons drives brain-state-dependent inhibition.Curr Biol. 2011 Oct 11;21(19):1593-602. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2011.08.028. Epub 2011 Sep 22. Curr Biol. 2011. PMID: 21945274
-
Electrical activity patterns and the functional maturation of the neocortex.Eur J Neurosci. 2011 Nov;34(10):1677-86. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2011.07878.x. Eur J Neurosci. 2011. PMID: 22103424 Review.
-
Neuronal circuits of the neocortex.Annu Rev Neurosci. 2004;27:419-51. doi: 10.1146/annurev.neuro.27.070203.144152. Annu Rev Neurosci. 2004. PMID: 15217339 Review.
Cited by
-
Functional and structural features of L2/3 pyramidal cells continuously covary with pial depth in mouse visual cortex.Cereb Cortex. 2023 Mar 21;33(7):3715-3733. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhac303. Cereb Cortex. 2023. PMID: 36017976 Free PMC article.
-
Cortical hierarchy, dual counterstream architecture and the importance of top-down generative networks.Neuroimage. 2021 Jan 15;225:117479. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117479. Epub 2020 Oct 21. Neuroimage. 2021. PMID: 33099005 Free PMC article. Review.
-
A Novel Method for Training Mice in Visuo-Tactile 3-D Object Discrimination and Recognition.Front Behav Neurosci. 2018 Nov 13;12:274. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00274. eCollection 2018. Front Behav Neurosci. 2018. PMID: 30555307 Free PMC article.
-
Diverse tuning underlies sparse activity in layer 2/3 vibrissal cortex of awake mice.J Physiol. 2019 May;597(10):2803-2817. doi: 10.1113/JP277506. Epub 2019 Apr 16. J Physiol. 2019. PMID: 30932197 Free PMC article.
-
A gradual depth-dependent change in connectivity features of supragranular pyramidal cells in rat barrel cortex.Brain Struct Funct. 2015;220(3):1317-37. doi: 10.1007/s00429-014-0726-8. Epub 2014 Feb 26. Brain Struct Funct. 2015. PMID: 24569853 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
