The thalamocortical synapse in layers IV and VI

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究的目的是研究体感觉和听觉通路中丘脑皮质投射的突触特性。推动这些研究的理论动力是了解高阶丘脑中继在感觉加工中的作用，特别是作为通过皮质-丘脑-皮质通路进行区域间皮质通信的潜在联系。这项研究对理解人类正常、健康的感觉处理模式具有重要意义。这项研究将利用小鼠体内的体外切片制剂，这种制剂已经开发用于体感觉和听觉系统。这将允许在多个系统之间进行比较，以测试观测结果的普遍性。细胞内记录将由体感觉和听觉系统的一阶（FO）和高阶（HO）皮层区域的第四层和第六层皮质神经元进行。通过释放谷氨酸的最小电刺激和光刺激将被用于激活前丘脑和后丘脑的神经元。形态学相关性将寻求使用细胞内注射生物细胞素。该研究拓宽了我们对正常感觉加工模式的认识和视角，为进一步探索神经系统疾病的异常感觉加工提供了基础。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goals of this study will be to investigate the synaptic properties of the thalamocortical projection in the somatosensory and auditory pathways. The theoretical impetus motivating these studies is to understand the role of higher order thalamic relays in sensory processing, in particular as a potential link for interareal cortical communication, via a cortico-thalamo-cortical pathway. This study has relevance for understanding the normal, healthy modes of sensory processing in humans. The study will utilize in vitro slice preparations in the mouse, which have been developed for both the somatosensory and auditory systems. This will allow a comparison between multiple systems to test the generality of the observations. Intracellular recordings will be made from cortical neurons in layers IV and VI in first order (FO) and higher order (HO) cortical areas in the somatosensory and auditory systems. Minimal electrical stimulation and photostimulation by uncaging of glutamate will be used to activate neurons in FO and HO thalamic relays. Morphological correlates will be sought using intracellular injections of biocytin. The study should thus broaden our knowledge and perspective of the normal modes of sensory processing, and provide a foundation for the further exploration of abnormal sensory processing in neurological diseases.