Single-cell optogenetics reveals attenuation-by-suppression in visual cortical neurons.

ABSTRACT: The relationship between neurons' input and spiking output is central to brain computation. Studies in vitro and in anesthetized animals suggest nonlinearities emerge in cells' input-output (activation) functions as network activity increases, yet how neurons transform inputs in vivo has been unclear. Here, we characterize cortical principal neurons' activation functions in awake mice using two-photon optogenetics. We deliver fixed inputs at the soma while neurons' activity varies with sensory stimuli. We find responses to fixed optogenetic input are nearly unchanged as neurons are excited, reflecting a linear response regime above neurons' resting point. In contrast, responses are dramatically attenuated by suppression. This attenuation is a powerful means to filter inputs a

SUBMITTER: LaFosse PK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10515908 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature