Functional architecture of the inferior colliculus revealed with voltage-sensitive dyes.

ABSTRACT: We used optical imaging with voltage-sensitive dyes to investigate the spatio-temporal dynamics of synaptically evoked activity in brain slices of the inferior colliculus (IC). Responses in transverse slices which preserve cross-frequency connections and in modified sagittal slices that preserve connections within frequency laminae were evoked by activating the lateral lemniscal tract. Comparing activity between small and large populations of cells revealed response areas in the central nucleus of the IC that were similar in magnitude but graded temporally. In transverse sections, these response areas are summed to generate a topographic response profile. Activity through the commissure to the contralateral IC required an excitation threshold that was reached when GABAergic inhibition was

SUBMITTER: Chandrasekaran L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3602642 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature