Local circuit of a motor areas: For network analysis to theoretical modeling

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We examined the local circuit of the motor-associated cerebral cortex morphologically by combining the molecular biological technique, such as transgenic animals and viral vectors, with the intracellular labeling method of sharp electrode and whole cell recording. From the experimental results, we propose that partially overlapping two circuits are embedded in the cerebral cortex:1) thalamic nuclei -> layer 4 -> layer 2/3 -> layer 5 -> subcortical output, or thalamic nuclei -> layer 4 -> layer 2/3 -> other cortical areas;2) thalamic nuclei -> layer 4 -> layer 6 -> thalamic nuclei.The former circuit is likely to be used for the feedforward information processing, and the latter one constitutes a dynamical system which may be associated with the autonomous activity of the corticothalamic loop. In addition to the information processing circuit for the cerebellar inputs in motor-associated areas, the basal ganglia information to layer 1 separately enters the apical dendrites of layer 2/3 and layer 5 pyramidal neurons via motor thalamic nuclei (IZ and VM), and probably prepares the cortical activity for motor control. Finally, the dynamical system may be helpful in keeping the autonomous activity that is required for the motor control system.