Activity-dependent changes in the firing properties of neocortical fast-spiking interneurons in the absence of large changes in gene expression.

ABSTRACT: The diverse cell types that comprise neocortical circuits each have characteristic integrative and firing properties that are specialized to perform specific functions within the network. Parvalbumin-positive fast-spiking (FS) interneurons are a particularly specialized cortical cell-type that controls the dynamics of ongoing activity and prevents runaway excitation by virtue of remarkably high firing rates, a feature that is permitted by narrow action potentials and the absence of spike-frequency adaptation. Although several neuronal intrinsic membrane properties undergo activity-dependent plasticity, the role of network activity in shaping and maintaining specialized, cell-type-specific firing properties is unknown. We tested whether the specialized firing properties of mature FS interne

SUBMITTER: Miller MN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3059083 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature