Abstract
While reading a book in a noisy café, how does your brain ‘gate in' visual information while filtering out auditory stimuli? Here we propose a mechanism for such flexible routing of information flow in a complex brain network (pathway-specific gating), tested using a network model of pyramidal neurons and three classes of interneurons with connection probabilities constrained by data. We find that if inputs from different pathways cluster on a pyramidal neuron dendrite, a pathway can be gated-on by a disinhibitory circuit motif. The branch-specific disinhibition can be achieved despite dense interneuronal connectivity, even with random connections. Moreover, clustering of input pathways on dendrites can naturally emerge through synaptic plasticity regulated by dendritic inhibition. This gating mechanism in a neural circuit is further demonstrated by performing a context-dependent decision-making task. The model suggests that cognitive flexibility engages top-down signalling of behavioural rule or context that targets specific classes of inhibitory neurons.
Highlights
While reading a book in a noisy cafe, how does your brain ‘gate in’ visual information while filtering out auditory stimuli? Here we propose a mechanism for such flexible routing of information flow in a complex brain network, tested using a network model of pyramidal neurons and three classes of interneurons with connection probabilities constrained by data
These studies generally found that vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) neurons are activated, and SOM neurons are inactivated, in response to changes in the animals’ behavioural states, such as when mice receive reinforcement[14], or start active whisking[6,15] or running[8]
We developed a network model with thousands of pyramidal neurons and hundreds of interneurons for each (VIP, SOM and PV) type, and show that pathwayspecific gating can be accomplished by the disinhibitory motif, even though the connectivity from SOM neurons to pyramidal neurons is dense: each SOM neuron on average targets 460% of neighbouring pyramidal neurons (o200 mm)[27]
Summary
While reading a book in a noisy cafe, how does your brain ‘gate in’ visual information while filtering out auditory stimuli? Here we propose a mechanism for such flexible routing of information flow in a complex brain network (pathway-specific gating), tested using a network model of pyramidal neurons and three classes of interneurons with connection probabilities constrained by data. Such dendritic disinhibitory circuit is proposed to gate excitatory inputs targeting pyramidal dendrites[9,10,11] (Fig. 1a). SOM-topyramidal connectivity is dense at the level of neurons, at the level of dendrites it is sufficiently sparse to support branchspecific disinhibition, and pathway-specific gating, given a Control input b
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
