Abstract
SummarySensory processing in neocortex is primarily driven by glutamatergic excitation, which is counterbalanced by GABAergic inhibition, mediated by a diversity of largely local inhibitory interneurons. Here, we trained mice to lick a reward spout in response to whisker deflection, and we recorded from genetically defined GABAergic inhibitory neurons in layer 2/3 of the primary somatosensory barrel cortex. Parvalbumin-expressing (PV), vasoactive intestinal peptide-expressing (VIP), and somatostatin-expressing (SST) neurons displayed distinct action potential firing dynamics during task performance. Whereas SST neurons fired at low rates, both PV and VIP neurons fired at high rates both spontaneously and in response to whisker stimulation. After an initial outcome-invariant early sensory response, PV neurons had lower firing rates in hit trials compared to miss trials. Optogenetic inhibition of PV neurons during this time period enhanced behavioral performance. Hence, PV neuron activity might contribute causally to gating the sensorimotor transformation of a whisker sensory stimulus into licking motor output.
Highlights
We recorded the activity of PV, vasoactive intestinal peptide-expressing (VIP), and SST neurons during the detection task, finding that both PV and VIP neurons fired at high rates during task performance, with PV neurons firing less action potentials (APs) in hit trials compared to miss trials
The neocortex has a diversity of GABAergic inhibitory neurons that differ in electrophysiological properties, structural features, synaptic connectivity, gene expression, and developmental origin (Ascoli et al, 2008)
Based on the expression of largely non-overlapping molecular markers, these neurons can be classified into three groups: parvalbumin expressing (PV), somatostatin expressing (SST), and 5HT3A receptor expressing, which includes neurons expressing vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) (Lee et al, 2010)
Summary
Sachidhanandam et al report that parvalbumin-expressing GABAergic neurons in mouse barrel cortex fire fewer action potentials in hit trials versus miss trials during a whisker-dependent detection task. Optogenetic inhibition of these neurons enhances behavioral performance. Parvalbumin-expressing neurons contribute to gating sensorimotor transformation of whisker stimulus into goal-directed motor output.
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