In vitro studies of closed-loop feedback and electrosensory processing in Apteronotus leptorhynchus.
Electrosensory systems comprise extensive feedback pathways. It is also well known that these pathways exhibit synaptic plasticity on a wide-range of time scales. Recent in vitro brain slice studies have characterized synaptic plasticity in the two main feedback pathways to the electrosensory lateral line lobe (ELL), a primary electrosensory nucleus in Apteronotus leptorhynchus. Currently-used slice preparations, involving networks in open-loop conditions, allow feedback inputs to be studied in isolation, a critical step in determining their synaptic properties. However, to fully understand electrosensory processing, we must understand how dynamic feedback modulates neuronal responses under closed-loop conditions. To bridge the gap between current in vitro approaches and more complex in vivo work, we present two new in vitro approaches for studying the roles of closed-loop feedback in electrosensory processing. The first involves a hybrid-network approach using dynamic clamp, and the second involves a new slice preparation that preserves one of the feedback pathways to ELL in a closed-loop condition.
Mileva
Gerri
G
Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Zysman
Daniel
D
Groothuis
Sally
S
Lewis
John E
JE
D000818:Animals; D004555:Electric Fish / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D004557:Electric Organ / Q000502:physiology*; D025461:Feedback, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology