UP States Protect Ongoing Cortical Activity from Thalamic Inputs
2008

How UP States Protect Cortical Activity from Thalamic Inputs

Sample size: 195 publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Brendon O. Watson, Jason N. MacLean, Rafael Yuste, Dietmar Plenz

Primary Institution: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America

Hypothesis

Do UP states protect ongoing cortical activity from thalamic inputs?

Conclusion

Cortical dynamics during UP states are insensitive to thalamic inputs.

Supporting Evidence

  • Thalamic stimulation during DOWN states generated synchronized UP states.
  • Thalamic stimulation during UP states had no effect on neuronal dynamics.
  • Input resistance was significantly decreased during cortical UP states.

Takeaway

When the brain is in a special state called an UP state, it doesn't react to signals from the thalamus, which usually helps process information.

Methodology

Calcium imaging and targeted whole-cell recordings were used in thalamocortical slices of mouse somatosensory cortex.

Limitations

The study was conducted in vitro, which may not fully replicate in vivo conditions.

Participant Demographics

P13-18 mice were used for the experiments.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.001

Statistical Significance

p<0.001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0003971

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