title: Layer-specific somatosensory cortical activation during active tactile discrimination.
abstract: Ensemble neuronal activity was recorded in each layer of the whisker area of the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) while rats performed a whisker-dependent tactile discrimination task. Comparison of this activity with SI activity evoked by similar passive whisker stimulation revealed fundamental differences in tactile signal processing during active and passive stimulation. Moreover, significant layer-specific functional differences in SI activity were observed during active discrimination. These differences could not be explained solely by variations in ascending thalamocortical input to SI. Instead, these results suggest that top-down influences during active discrimination may alter the overall functional nature of SI as well as layer-specific mechanisms of tactile processing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. krupa@neuro.duke.edu
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Krupa
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Wiest
authors.forename: Marshall G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Shuler
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laubach
authors.forename: Miguel A L
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nicolelis
mesh_terms: D000344:Afferent Pathways; D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004594:Electrophysiology; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology*