Layer-specific excitatory circuits differentially control recurrent network dynamics in the neocortex

• Published in: Nature neuroscience Vol. 16; no. 2; pp. 227 - 234
• Main Authors: Beltramo, Riccardo, D'Urso, Giulia, Dal Maschio, Marco, Farisello, Pasqualina, Bovetti, Serena, Clovis, Yoanne, Lassi, Glenda, Tucci, Valter, De Pietri Tonelli, Davide, Fellin, Tommaso
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Nature Publishing Group US 01.02.2013; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/378/1697; 631/378/1697/2601; Action Potentials - physiology; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Artificial chromosomes; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Behavioral Sciences; Biological Techniques; Biomedicine; Channelrhodopsins; Electric Stimulation; Electroencephalography; Electroporation; Female; Health aspects; In Vitro Techniques; Luminescent Proteins - genetics; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Transgenic; Models, Neurological; Morphology; Neocortex; Neocortex - cytology; Neocortex - physiology; Nerve Net - physiology; Neural circuitry; Neural Pathways - physiology; Neurobiology; Neurons; Neurons - physiology; Neurosciences; Nonlinear Dynamics; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase - metabolism; Photic Stimulation; Physiological aspects; Pregnancy; Proteins - genetics; Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma - genetics; RNA, Untranslated; Italy
• ISSN: 1097-6256; 1546-1726; 1546-1726
• DOI: 10.1038/nn.3306

This study uses optogenetics in vivo in mice to provide causal evidence for the distinct roles played by different cortical layers in the regulation of intrinsic oscillations. In the absence of external stimuli, the mammalian neocortex shows intrinsic network oscillations. These dynamics are characterized by translaminar assemblies of neurons whose activity synchronizes rhythmically in space and time. How different cortical layers influence the formation of these spontaneous cellular assemblies is poorly understood. We found that excitatory neurons in supragranular and infragranular layers have distinct roles in the regulation of intrinsic low-frequency oscillations in mice in vivo . Optogenetic activation of infragranular neurons generated network activity that resembled spontaneous events, whereas photoinhibition of these same neurons substantially attenuated slow ongoing dynamics. In contrast, light activation and inhibition of supragranular cells had modest effects on spontaneous slow activity. This study represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first causal demonstration that excitatory circuits located in distinct cortical layers differentially control spontaneous low-frequency dynamics.