title: An excitatory basis for divisive normalization in visual cortex.
abstract: Neurons in visual cortex are connected not only locally, but also through networks of distal connectivity. These distal networks recruit both excitatory and inhibitory synapses and result in divisive normalization. Normalization is traditionally thought to result from increases in synaptic inhibition. By combining optogenetic stimulation and intracellular recordings in mouse visual cortex, we found that, on the contrary, normalization is a result of a decrease in synaptic excitation.
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Tatsuo K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Bilal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Haider
authors.affiliation: Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2673-8957
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Häusser
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4880-7682
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carandini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D062308:Optogenetics / Q000379:methods*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology*