An Embedded Subnetwork of Highly Active Neurons in the Neocortex

作者：Yassin Lina; Benedetti Brett L; Jouhanneau Jean Sebastien; Wen Jing A; Poulet James F A; Barth Alison L^*

来源：Neuron, 2010, 68(6): 1043-1050.

DOI：10.1016/j.neuron.2010.11.029

Unbiased methods to assess the firing activity of individual neurons in the neocortex have revealed that a large proportion of cells fire at extremely low rates (<0.1 Hz), both in their spontaneous and evoked activity. Thus, firing in neocortical networks appears to be dominated by a small population of highly active neurons. Here, we use a fosGFP transgenic mouse to examine the properties of cells with a recent history of elevated activity. FosGFP-expressing layer 2/3 pyramidal cells fired at higher rates compared to fosGFP(-) neurons, both in vivo and in vitro. Elevated activity could be attributed to increased excitatory and decreased inhibitory drive to fosGFP(+) neurons. Paired-cell recordings indicated that fosGFP(+) neurons had a greater likelihood of being connected to each other. These findings indicate that highly active, interconnected neuronal ensembles are present in the neocortex and suggest these cells may play a role in the encoding of sensory information.

• 出版日期2010-12-22