Top-down control of cortical state.
Sensory cortices receive inputs not only from thalamus but also from higher-order cortical regions. Here, Zagha et al. (2013) show that motor cortical inputs can switch barrel cortex into a desynchronized state that enables more faithful representation of subtle sensory stimuli.
UCL Institute of Neurology, 21 University Street, London WC1E 6DE, UK. kenneth.harris@ucl.ac.uk
Kenneth D
KD
Harris
D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D025461:Feedback, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology*