Corticogeniculate Feedback in the Visual System

描述(申请人提供)：对大脑内神经元回路的了解对阿尔茨海默氏症和帕金森氏症等回路疾病具有重要意义。视觉系统是研究神经回路的理想模型，因为它被精确地组织起来，而且人们对它的细胞和隔间成分了解很多。这项建议研究了视觉系统中一个重要但难以捉摸的通路的功能和解剖：皮质膝状体反馈通路。初级视皮层中的膝状体投射神经元构成视觉系统中的皮质膝状体通路，将采用三级实验方法进行研究。第一个实验涉及记录清醒动物初级视觉皮质内的单个膝状体投射神经元，以阐明它们在活体中的功能。在第二个实验中，单个膝状体投射神经元通过它们的生理学被识别，并被标记，从而可以确定它们的亚层位置。第三个实验涉及识别针对外侧膝状体特定区域的膝状体投射神经元的位置和形态特征。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): An understanding of neuronal circuitry within the brain has important implications for diseases of circuits such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The visual system is an ideal model in which to study neural circuitry because it is precisely organized and much is known about its cellular and compartmental components. This proposal examines the function and anatomy of an important, yet elusive, pathway within the visual system: the corticogeniculate feedback pathway. Geniculate-projecting neurons in primary visual cortex which constitute the corticogeniculate pathway in the visual system will be studied using a three-tiered experimental approach. The first experiment involves recording from individual geniculate-projecting neurons within primary visual cortex in the conscious animal in order to elucidate their function in vivo. In the second experiment, individual geniculate-projecting neurons are identified by their physiology and labeled such that their sub-laminar location can be determined. The third experiment involves identifying the locations and morphological identities of geniculate-projecting neurons targeting specific regions of the lateral geniculate nucleus.