Cooperative Subnetworks of Molecularly Similar Interneurons in Mouse Neocortex.

ABSTRACT: Simultaneous co-activation of neocortical neurons is likely critical for brain computations ranging from perception and motor control to memory and cognition. While co-activation of excitatory principal cells (PCs) during ongoing activity has been extensively studied, that of inhibitory interneurons (INs) has received little attention. Here, we show in vivo and in vitro that members of two non-overlapping neocortical IN populations, expressing somatostatin (SOM) or vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), are active as populations rather than individually. We demonstrate a variety of synergistic mechanisms, involving population-specific local excitation, GABAergic disinhibition and excitation through electrical coupling, which likely underlie IN population co-activity. Firing of a few SOM or V

SUBMITTER: Karnani MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4961215 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature