Topic: layer 2/3 neurons

Behavior-related neural dynamics in the frontal cortex is an emergent property of network connectivity. The network structure at the level of individual neurons, and its relationship to neural coding are largely unknown. We developed an optical method for rapid (500k pairwise connections / 30 minutes) mapping of effective connectivity in the neocortex in vivo. To this end, we combined 2-photon optogenetic stimulation of individual excitatory neurons and measurement of responses in non-stimulated neurons (‘effective connection’) using 2-photon volumetric calcium imaging. We applied this method

Altered sensory experience is now considered a key feature of neurodevelopmental and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This alteration results in, and often predicts, a range of cognitive, social, and behavioural affective impairments, strongly impacting the quality of life. However, the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms that disrupt sensory perception remain understudied. We investigated these mechanisms in a mouse model of SYNGAP1 haploinsufficiency (ΗΕΤ), SYNGAP1 being one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder genes. Using in vivo two-photon calcium imaging, we found that

The perception of an ambiguous stimulus rely on the activation of multiple cortical areas, operating a sensorimotor transformation along the cortical hierarchy. Furthermore, choice related information is found as upstream as the primary sensory areas, suggesting bi-directional communication at all stages of the cortical hierarchy. How do sensory and choice related activities flow and organize across multiple brain areas? Here, we designed a two-alternative forced-choice task (2AFC) in which mice compared stimulation frequencies applied to two adjacent vibrissae. Using two-photon functional ima