Differential wiring of layer 2/3 neurons drives sparse and reliable firing during neocortical development.

ABSTRACT: Sensory information is transmitted with high fidelity across multiple synapses until it reaches the neocortex. There, individual neurons exhibit enormous variability in responses. The source of this diversity in output has been debated. Using transgenic mice expressing the green fluorescent protein coupled to the activity-dependent gene c-fos, we identified neurons with a history of elevated activity in vivo. Focusing on layer 4 to layer 2/3 connections, a site of strong excitatory drive at an initial stage of cortical processing, we find that fluorescently tagged neurons receive significantly greater excitatory and reduced inhibitory input compared with neighboring, unlabeled cells. Differential wiring of layer 2/3 neurons arises early in development and requires sensory input to be estab

SUBMITTER: Benedetti BL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3792743 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature