Enhanced dendritic activity in awake rats.

ABSTRACT: Almost nothing is known about dendritic activity in awake animals and even less about its relationship to behavior. The tuft dendrites of layer 5 (L5) pyramidal neurons lie in layer 1, where long-range axons from secondary thalamic nuclei and higher cortical areas arrive. This class of input is very dependent on active thalamo-cortical loops and activity in higher brain areas and so is likely to be heavily influenced by the conscious state of the animal. If, as has been suggested, the dendrites of pyramidal neurons actively participate in this process, dendritic activity should greatly increase in the awake state. Here, we measured calcium activity in L5 pyramidal neuron dendrites using the "periscope" fiberoptic system. Recordings were made in the sensorimotor cortex of awake and anesthet

SUBMITTER: Murayama M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2777965 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature