Corticogeniculate Feedback in the Visual System

描述（由申请人提供）：了解大脑内的神经回路对阿尔茨海默氏症和帕金森病等神经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，因为它是精确组织的，并且对其细胞和隔室成分了解甚多。本提案探讨了视觉系统中一个重要但难以捉摸的通路的功能和解剖：促肾上腺皮质酸反馈通路。本文将采用三层实验方法研究初级视觉皮层中构成膝状皮质通路的膝状突起神经元。第一个实验包括记录有意识动物初级视觉皮层内单个膝状突起神经元，以阐明它们在体内的功能。在第二个实验中，单个膝状突起神经元通过其生理特征被识别并标记，从而可以确定其层流下的位置。第三个实验涉及识别外侧膝状核特定区域的膝状突起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.