title: Stereotyped spatial patterns of functional synaptic connectivity in the cerebellar cortex.
abstract: Motor coordination is supported by an array of highly organized heterogeneous modules in the cerebellum. How incoming sensorimotor information is channeled and communicated between these anatomical modules is still poorly understood. In this study, we used transgenic mice expressing GFP in specific subsets of Purkinje cells that allowed us to target a given set of cerebellar modules. Combining in vitro recordings and photostimulation, we identified stereotyped patterns of functional synaptic organization between the granule cell layer and its main targets, the Purkinje cells, Golgi cells and molecular layer interneurons. Each type of connection displayed position-specific patterns of granule cell synaptic inputs that do not strictly match with anatomical boundaries but connect distant cortical modules. Although these patterns can be adjusted by activity-dependent processes, they were found to be consistent and predictable between animals. Our results highlight the operational rules underlying communication between modules in the cerebellar cortex.
authors.affiliation: Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Antoine M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Valera
authors.affiliation: Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Binda
authors.affiliation: Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Sophie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Pawlowski
authors.affiliation: Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Dupont
authors.affiliation: Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Casella
authors.affiliation: Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States.
authors.forename: Jeffrey D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rothstein
authors.affiliation: Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Poulain
authors.affiliation: Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0630-5935
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Isope
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002525:Cerebellar Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D063132:Connectome; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins
keywords: cerebellum; granule cell; microcircuit; module; mouse; neuroscience; purkinje cell; zebrin