title: Selectivity in the inter-laminar connections made by neocortical neurones.
abstract: In this brief review of inter-laminar synaptic connections in neocortex a case is made for the hypothesis that axons select their targets, or neurones select their inputs with great specificity. A large part of the data discussed was obtained from dual intracellular recordings in slices of adult neocortex. The neurones innervated in a given layer by a given type of axon were not found to be a random selection of the cells in that layer. Rather in a layer to layer specific fashion, certain types of target cells are densely innervated while others are not contacted or receive only weak inputs. In another layer, the same axons may select other targets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, The School of Pharmacy London University, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK. alex.thomson@ams1.ulsop.ac.uk
authors.forename: Alex M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: Oliver T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D019579:Neocortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000166:cytology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000166:cytology; D009474:Neurons / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology; D010320:Parvalbumins / Q000378:metabolism; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000166:cytology; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010320:Parvalbumins