inhibitory microcircuits

Circuit and synaptic mechanisms of plasticity in neural ensembles

Inhibitory microcircuits play an important role regulating cortical responses to sensory stimuli. Interneurons that inhibit dendritic or somatic integration are gatekeepers for neural activity, synaptic plasticity and the formation of sensory representations. We have been investigating the synaptic plasticity mechanisms underlying the formation of ensembles in olfactory and orbitofrontal cortex. We have been focusing on the roles of three inhibitory neuron classes in gating excitatory synaptic plasticity in olfactory cortex- somatostatin (SST-INs), parvalbumin (PV-INs), and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP-INs) interneurons. Further, we are investigating the rules for inhibitory plasticity and a potential role in stabilizing ensembles in associative cortices. I will present new findings to support distinct roles for different interneuron classes in the gating and stabilization of ensemble representations of olfactory responses.

STXBP1 encephalopathy is caused by the failure of excitatory synapses to recruit inhibition in feedforward inhibitory microcircuits

Ventral hippocampal inhibitory microcircuits for anxiety and fear

FENS Forum 2024