Serial processing of kinematic signals by cerebellar circuitry during voluntary whisking.

ABSTRACT: Purkinje cells (PCs) in Crus 1 represent whisker movement via linear changes in firing rate, but the circuit mechanisms underlying this coding scheme are unknown. Here we examine the role of upstream inputs to PCs-excitatory granule cells (GCs) and inhibitory molecular layer interneurons-in processing of whisking signals. Patch clamp recordings in GCs reveal that movement is accompanied by changes in mossy fibre input rate that drive membrane potential depolarisation and high-frequency bursting activity at preferred whisker angles. Although individual GCs are narrowly tuned, GC populations provide linear excitatory drive across a wide range of movement. Molecular layer interneurons exhibit bidirectional firing rate changes during whisking, similar to PCs. Together, GC populations provide d

SUBMITTER: Chen S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5550418 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature