Functional connectivity of isolated neuronal circuits in primary visual cortex

描述（由申请人提供）：神经系统的功能取决于神经元网络之间的复杂相互作用。了解这些网络在健康和疾病中的功能取决于了解神经元之间精细连接的功能。本研究旨在揭示同一或不同皮层中相似和不同类型神经元之间的特异性联系的功能。狂犬病追踪系统将揭示小鼠初级视皮层神经元之间的直接单突触联系。视觉刺激结合钙成像将揭示连接神经元的视觉反应特性。该方法将是第一个同时评估活体动物的连接性和功能，而不限制连接细胞之间的距离。皮质来源和功能的兴奋性和抑制性输入的功能贡献，以单一的功能特征的兴奋性神经元将被发现，和一个单一的神经元集成许多输入，以产生一个单一的功能输出的原则将被研究。这些实验的结果将揭示各种假说的功能作用的精细规模的连接在皮层信息处理。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The function of the nervous system is dependent on complex interactions between networks of neurons. Understanding how these networks function in both health and disease is dependent on understanding the function of the fine-scale connections between neurons. The research proposed here is aimed at revealing the functions of specific connections between similar and different types of neurons in the same or different cortical layer. A rabies-based tracing system will reveal the direct monosynaptic connections between neurons in the primary visual cortex of mice. Visual stimulation combined with calcium imaging will then reveal the visual response properties of connected neurons. This method will be the first to simultaneously assess both connectivity and function in a live animal without limitations on the distance between connected cells. The cortical sources and functional contributions of excitatory and inhibitory inputs to single functionally characterized excitatory neurons will be uncovered, and the principles by which a single neuron integrates many inputs to produce a single functional output will be studied. The results of these experiments will shed light on various hypotheses about the functional roles of fine-scale connections in cortical information processing.