清醒小鼠初级听皮层稀疏编码的关键问题

在感觉系统中，特定的感觉信息只能引起小部分的神经元反应，这种现象称为稀疏编码。稀疏编码现象在感觉系统特别是感觉皮层中普遍存在，被认为是感觉系统对信息表达的重要编码策略。然而，这种现象产生的逻辑基础，特别是其产生的突触机制和潜在调控环路等一系列关键问题，目前并不清楚。在清醒动物的神经电生理实验技术的进步，特别是单神经元贴附式记录和在同一神经元分别记录动作电位与突触电流的在体全细胞记录等技术的突破，使我们有足够的手段来系统研究稀疏编码的潜在机制。因此，本课题拟以清醒小鼠听觉皮层为研究对象，结合单神经元贴附式记录技术、在体全细胞记录技术和光遗传技术来系统地对稀疏编码的这些关键问题开展研究。对这些问题的回答将使我们能更深入地理解感觉神经系统对信息加工处理的逻辑，也使我们能更好地理解感觉系统稀疏编码策略的潜在功能。

The term ‘sparse coding’ has been widely used to describe the phenomenon in sensory system, which a given sensory stimulus can only drive small population neurons. Sparse coding is a general phenomenon throughout cerebral cortex, especially in sensory cortices, and it is considered as an important coding strategy. However, the biological mechanisms, especially the synaptic mechanisms and modulation pathway, that underlying sparse coding remain largely unclear. We make great progress in electrophysiology experiment skill in awake animals, especially in long-term loose-patch recordings and in vivo whole-cell recordings for both evoked spike and synaptic input in a same neuron, which will allow us to investigate the potential mechanisms of sparse coding systematically. So, in this project we will study these key questions of sparse coding in auditory cortex of awake mice with the technique of loose-patch recordings, in vivo whole-cell recordings and optogenetics. The answer of these questions will allow us to further understand the logic of information progressing and the potential function of sparse coding strategy in sensory system.