A prenatal window for enhancing spatial resolution of cortical barrel maps.

ABSTRACT: Precise mapping of peripheral inputs onto cortical areas is essential for accurate sensory processing. In the mouse primary somatosensory cortex, mystacial whiskers correspond to large, well-defined barrels, while upper lip whiskers form smaller, less distinct barrels. These differences are traditionally attributed to variations in whisker input type and receptor density, but prenatal activity and transcriptional programs also impact somatosensory map development independently of sensory experience. Here, we demonstrate that prenatal ablation of mystacial whiskers leads to a remapping of cortical territories, enhancing the functional and anatomical definition of upper lip whisker barrels. This reorganization occurs without altering peripheral receptor types. Instead, thalamic neurons that

SUBMITTER: Anibal-Martinez M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11885613 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature