title: Cellular and synaptic architecture of multisensory integration in the mouse neocortex.
abstract: Multisensory integration (MI) is crucial for sensory processing, but it is unclear how MI is organized in cortical microcircuits. Whole-cell recordings in a mouse visuotactile area located between primary visual and somatosensory cortices revealed that spike responses were less bimodal than synaptic responses but displayed larger multisensory enhancement. MI was layer and cell type specific, with multisensory enhancement being rare in the major class of inhibitory interneurons and in the output infragranular layers. Optogenetic manipulation of parvalbumin-positive interneuron activity revealed that the scarce MI of interneurons enables MI in neighboring pyramids. Finally, single-cell resolution calcium imaging revealed a gradual merging of modalities: unisensory neurons had higher densities toward the borders of the primary cortices, but were located in unimodal clusters in the middle of the cortical area. These findings reveal the role of different neuronal subcircuits in the synaptic process of MI in the rodent parietal cortex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego, 30, 16163 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Olcese
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iurilli
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Medini
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008954:Models, Biological; D019579:Neocortex / Q000166:cytology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D062308:Optogenetics; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism; D010320:Parvalbumins / Q000378:metabolism; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D055366:Synaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D014110:Touch; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000502:physiology; D014794:Visual Fields
chemical_list: D008164:Luminescent Proteins; C403124:Oregon Green BAPTA-dextran; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010320:Parvalbumins; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV