Abstract
The process by which synaptic inputs separated in time and space are integrated by the dendritic arbor to produce a sequence of action potentials is among the most fundamental signal transformations that takes place within the central nervous system. Some aspects of this complex process, such as integration at the level of individual dendritic branches, have been extensively studied. But other aspects, such as how inputs from multiple branches are combined, and the kinetics of that integration have not been systematically examined. Using a 3D digital holographic photolysis technique to overcome the challenges posed by the complexities of the 3D anatomy of the dendritic arbor of CA1 pyramidal neurons for conventional photolysis, we show that integration on a single dendrite is fundamentally different from that on multiple dendrites. Multibranch integration occurring at oblique and basal dendrites allows somatic action potential firing of the cell to faithfully follow the driving stimuli over a significantly wider frequency range than what is possible with single branch integration. However, multibranch integration requires greater input strength to drive the somatic action potentials. This tradeoff between sensitivity and temporal precision may explain the puzzling report of the predominance of multibranch, rather than single branch, integration from in vivo recordings during presentation of visual stimuli.
Highlights
Individual thin dendritic branches are fundamental functional units in the nervous system (Branco and Hausser, 2011)
Using a 3D digital holographic photolysis technique to overcome the challenges posed by the complexities of the 3D anatomy of the dendritic arbor of CA1 pyramidal neurons for conventional photolysis, we show that integration on a single dendrite is fundamentally different from that on multiple dendrites
This study compared the properties of single- and multibranch integration to complex patterns of photostimulation as a means to probe and compare the global and the two-stage model of dendritic integration
Summary
Individual thin dendritic branches are fundamental functional units in the nervous system (Branco and Hausser, 2011). Experimental data support the concept that they can operate as quasiindependent processing and signaling units capable of non-linear behavior (Mel, 1993; Wei et al, 2001) In combination with their parent dendritic branches, these thin distal dendrites can function in two distinct modes (Gasparini and Magee, 2006; Katz et al, 2009). Takahashi et al (2012) reported that in layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons of the barrel cortex, related inputs frequently arrived synchronously on neighboring synapses, creating the possibility of local non-linear integration, which is more consistent with the two-stage model (Takahashi et al, 2012). The global mode of integration is less sensitive to low strength stimuli, but allows for accurate response following over a greater frequency range, while the two-stage mode of integration has high sensitivity but allows for accurate response following only at low frequencies
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