The whisking oscillator circuit.

ABSTRACT: Central oscillators are primordial neural circuits that generate and control rhythmic movements^1,2. Mechanistic understanding of these circuits requires genetic identification of the oscillator neurons and their synaptic connections to enable targeted electrophysiological recording and causal manipulation during behaviours. However, such targeting remains a challenge with mammalian systems. Here we delimit the oscillator circuit that drives rhythmic whisking-a motor action that is central to foraging and active sensing in rodents^3,4. We found that the whisking oscillator consists of parvalbumin-expressing inhibitory neurons located in the vibrissa intermediate reticular nucleus (vIRt_PV) in the brainstem. vIRt_PV neurons receive descending excitato

SUBMITTER: Takatoh J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10038238 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature