Selective optical drive of thalamic reticular nucleus generates thalamic bursts and cortical spindles.

ABSTRACT: The thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) is hypothesized to regulate neocortical rhythms and behavioral states. Using optogenetics and multi-electrode recording in behaving mice, we found that brief selective drive of TRN switched the thalamocortical firing mode from tonic to bursting and generated state-dependent neocortical spindles. These findings provide causal support for the involvement of the TRN in state regulation in vivo and introduce a new model for addressing the role of this structure in behavior.

SUBMITTER: Halassa MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4169194 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature