title: Optogenetic activation of an inhibitory network enhances feedforward functional connectivity in auditory cortex.
abstract: The mammalian neocortex is a highly interconnected network of different types of neurons organized into both layers and columns. Overlaid on this structural organization is a pattern of functional connectivity that can be rapidly and flexibly altered during behavior. Parvalbumin-positive (PV+) inhibitory neurons, which are implicated in cortical oscillations and can change neuronal selectivity, may play a pivotal role in these dynamic changes. We found that optogenetic activation of PV+ neurons in the auditory cortex enhanced feedforward functional connectivity in the putative thalamorecipient circuit and in cortical columnar circuits. In contrast, stimulation of PV+ neurons induced no change in connectivity between sites in the same layers. The activity of PV+ neurons may thus serve as a gating mechanism to enhance feedforward, but not lateral or feedback, information flow in cortical circuits. Functionally, it may preferentially enhance the contribution of bottom-up sensory inputs to perception.
authors.affiliation: Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Liberty S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Jascha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sohl-Dickstein
authors.forename: Alexander G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Huth
authors.forename: Vanessa M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Carels
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Deisseroth
authors.forename: Shaowen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bao
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D000075402:Channelrhodopsins; D000229:Dependovirus; D004566:Electrodes; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D025461:Feedback, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D062308:Optogenetics; D010320:Parvalbumins / Q000378:metabolism; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio
chemical_list: D000075402:Channelrhodopsins; D010320:Parvalbumins