title: Multiscale fingerprinting of neuronal functional connectivity.
abstract: Current cellular-based connectomics approaches aim to delineate the functional or structural organizations of mammalian brain circuits through neuronal activity mapping and/or axonal tracing. To discern possible connectivity between functionally identified neurons in widely distributed brain circuits, reliable and efficient network-based approaches of cross-registering or cross-correlating such functional-structural data are essential. Here, a novel cross-correlation approach that exploits multiple timing-specific, response-specific, and cell-specific neuronal characteristics as coincident fingerprint markers at the systems, network, and cellular levels is proposed. Application of this multiscale temporal-cellular coincident fingerprinting assay to the respiratory central pattern generator network in rats revealed a descending excitatory pathway with characteristic activity pattern and projecting from a distinct neuronal population in pons to its counterparts in medulla that control the post-inspiratory phase of the respiratory rhythm important for normal breathing, airway protection, and respiratory-vocalization coordination. This enabling neurotracing approach may prove valuable for functional connectivity mapping of other brain circuits.
authors: Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
authors: Gang
authors: G
authors: Song
authors: Chung
authors: C
authors: Tin
authors: Chi-Sang
authors: CS
authors: Poon
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000502:physiology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D011149:Pons / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats